Missouri attorney general sues Columbia Public Schools over mask mandate
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt said Tuesday that he has filed a lawsuit challenging the coronavirus mask mandate in Columbia Public Schools.
Schmitt, a Republican who is also running for U.S. Senate, said in a news release Tuesday that Columbia Public School's mask requirement for all students and staff is unreasonable because few children are infected with coronavirus. Schmitt also claims that wearing masks shows only a marginal benefit in fighting the spread of coronavirus.
CPS announced the mask mandate this month ahead of the start of classes on Tuesday. It requires all students and staff to wear masks indoors and on school buses. Visitors are also required to wear masks.
“Forcing schoolchildren to mask all day in school flies in the face of science, especially given children’s low risk of severe illness and death and their low risk of transmission," Schmitt said in a news release. "Additionally, forcing schoolchildren to mask all day could hinder critical development by eliminating facial cues and expressions.”
CPS spokeswoman Michelle Baumstark called the lawsuit a waste of taxpayer money and that student safety should be officials' top priority.
"Columbia Public Schools is extremely disappointed to learn that the Missouri Attorney General has chosen to pursue litigation against the school district for providing safety measures for its scholars, teachers, and staff members," the district said in a news release. "Numerous school districts across Missouri and across our country made the same safety decision based on what is needed in their communities during this period of time. The decisions made are based on guidance and recommendations from local, state and national health experts, including the CDC."
The release said the mask mandate is temporary and that CPS will "aggressively defend" its decision to require masks.
Schmitt has also sued over public mask mandates in St. Louis city and county, Kansas City and Jackson County.
CPS officials said when issuing the mask mandate that the rules are necessary to protect students and staff and reduce the number of students who must quarantine if exposed to coronavirus. The district reported 20 students infected with coronavirus and another 15 in quarantine to begin the week.
Four staff members were positive for coronavirus and two were in quarantine to start the week. Classes for most students began Tuesday.
Missourians age 0-17 account for 73,403, or about 12%, of Missouri's COVID-19 cases but only five deaths. People in that age range make up 2,869 of Boone County's cases, or about 13%. The state reports 110 COVID-19 cases in the CPS student population over the last 14 days.
The lawsuit also argues that masks are harmful to children's development, particularly younger children and those with special needs. The suit names the district, Superintendent Brian Yearwood and school board members as defendants.
Columbia, like much of the state, is experiencing a sustained surge in coronavirus cases that has pushed new case rates to levels seen in the winter. The county health department says 135 people have died from coronavirus since the pandemic began. Local hospitals have limited some procedures and transfers because of the load of coronavirus patients they're treating.
Check back for updates to this developing story.
