After last week’s meeting that was disrupted by a largely unruly and unmasked crowd, the state’s school board announced it will not reschedule a hearing for public comment on mask mandates for students.
The Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education issued its decision in a statement distributed late Sunday night.
Officials cited the medically unsafe and persistently disruptive behavior exhibited by masking opponents, which prompted early adjournment of the Aug. 18 BESE meeting in Baton Rouge, as sufficient reason not to try again.
The statement said, in part, “As educators and education leaders, we have to be role models for children. Just as we wouldn’t allow this behavior in schools, neither will we tolerate refusal to follow the law, intimidation, bullying tactics, and putting the health and safety of attendees at risk during our board meetings.”
Republican House Speaker Clay Schexnayder urges BESE members to reconsider. In order for BESE to hold another public meeting before the Governor’s current statewide mask mandate for those ages 5 and older ends September 1st, Schexnayder said BESE should set out clear guidelines of what attendees can and cannot do during an in-person meeting.
