Columbia Public School parents protest mask requirement
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
About 30 Columbia Public School parents met outside the Aslin Administration Building Saturday to protest CPS's mask requirement for the upcoming school year.
CPS announced Aug. 13 that masks will be required for all students and faculty. With the first day of school approaching on Tuesday, parents are disgruntled that they haven't had a chance to voice their concerns.
John Potter and his wife organized the protest. They have three young girls in CPS schools but withdrew them from summer school because they believe masks were causing anxiety and inhibiting their education.
"My middle daughter, she has suffered from anxiety since these mandates have been put in place," Potter said. "It's not all necessarily from the mask but I think it's a contributing factor to her anxiety."
Potter told ABC 17 reporters he's reached out to school administration several times about mask requirements and has yet to get a response.
In a letter to parents, CPS said it's implementing the mask requirement to ensure students can continue to learn in person safely.
"We know not everyone will agree with this decision," the letter said. "We have listened closely and intentionally to many voices and opinions. This decision is not a forever decision, but it is a decision that is currently necessary."
Potter said he and the other parents at the protest would like to see proof that masks protect children in Boone County schools.
"We need to know what's relevant to Boone County, and we have the data here in Boone County, so that's the data that I would like to see," Potter said. "I think it would make a lot of difference because transparency is what we're asking for at a CPS."
A study out of Georgia in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows schools that require masks have 37% less COVID transmission than schools that don't.
ABC 17 reporters reached out to CPS for a comment on the protest, but they have yet to respond.
Watch ABC 17 News at 10 p.m.
