Governor John Bel Edwards’ mask mandate for public schools will remain in effect after a meeting of the state school board ended in chaos on Wednesday.
The Louisiana Board of Elementarty and Secondary Education was scheduled to consider the mask mandate at its regular meeting in Baton Rouge Wednesday. But before the board could even get to the agenda item of discussing the mask mandate, the raucus crowd in attendance basically took over the meeting with chants and other disruptions. When members of the crowd were asked to wear masks, very few complied.
After numerous pleas from BESE members to maintain order were ignored, board member Holly Boffy of Lafayette moved to adjourn the meeting, which was approved on an 8-2 vote.
Michael Melerine of Shreveport and James D. Garvey Jr. of Metairie were the only members to vote against adjournment. Board President Sandy Holloway of Thibodaux didn't vote.
Some people in the crowd then began screaming, "traitors!" and "recall!" after the adjournment. Some took photos of their nameplates, saying, "Remember their names."
BESE was to decide whether to defy Edwards' mask mandate after Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry issued an opinion that only BESE, not the govenor, has the authority to issue safety protocols.
The state's top school board had earlier said it would leave masking up to Louisiana's 69 school districts, including Washington Parish, but that was before Edwards issued his masking order.
Now, BESE's lack of action due to the early adjournment leaves the mask mandate in place.
So for local students in Washington Parish Schools, the governor’s mask mandate is still effective.
