Will School Mask Resistance Affect Area Levy Votes?

What began as the latest mask protest in area schools is starting to spill over into the coming levy and bond elections in the Mid-Columbia.

MORE VOICES CALLING FOR 'NO' VOTES ON LEVYS

Last Friday, we were the first to report on a group (presumably ten) of students at Southridge High School who showed up without masks in protest. About half of them, we were told, opted to don a mask and go to class, the rest opted for the parental approved absence offered by officials. A video we published of the event shows rather testy and tense exchanges between the students and officials.

Now, another video is making the rounds of another student-official confrontation that got more heated. This video, according to some of the sources who have shared it, has garnered nearly 2 million views.  A statewide protest is planned for January 31st, encouraging students to ditch their masks in WA state.

In addition, a new report from GOP State House Rep Jim Walsh of Aberdeen reveals that the New York State Supreme Court has overturned the Governor's student mask mandate.

And now, we are seeing growing 'discussion' and comments from a wide variety of persons on various social media indicating they are going to vote 'no' on area school levies unless officials lift the mask mandates in Tri-City schools.

You may have seen this meme circulating on your social media feeds.  On one side many parents believe by applying this kind of pressure to schools they will perhaps lift the mandate. Supporters believe some school officials are not listening to them, refusing to consider it, and ignoring parental and student wishes. They point to the sizeable amount of data questioning the effectiveness of masks.

On the other side are voices, some parents and some school officials, who say the only people who will be punished by voting down levies will be students. This video was shot from the most recent Richland School Board meeting of President Jill Oldson pushing for the masks to remain. Her tone was not well received by some parents. Oldson said administrators are just following the rules.

To see the video, click on the button below.

It will be interesting to see what happens with our area levies, ballots have already been sent out in the mail.