‘This is not over’: Attorney General continues lawsuit against Columbia Public Schools despite mask mandate ending

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Despite Columbia Public Schools announcing the end of its mask mandate, Attorney General Eric Schmitt tells ABC 17 he is not done with his lawsuit, which he is calling a "crusade to liberate families."

Columbia Public Schools dropped its temporary mask mandate starting Friday, just hours before a court hearing in which Schmitt planned to ask a judge to force the district to end the rule.

But during the court hearing Thursday, a lawyer for Schmitt's office said the restraining order to stop the mandate was no longer needed. However, the AG's office said during the hearing that it will still seek an injunction to prevent CPS from reissuing a mask mandate.

CPS Superintendent Brian Yearwood announced the change in a letter to families Thursday. The rule had been set to expire ahead of Monday classes next week.

"Current sewershed reports indicate a continued decline in our community. Staffing and substitute fill rates indicate significant improvement this week," Yearwood wrote. "Student attendance has also dramatically improved."

The district reported 18 active student cases on its coronavirus dashboard Thursday, 23 staff members with active infections and a substitute fill rate of nearly 90% this week. Student case numbers had been far higher during the height of the omicron wave.

Masks will still be required on school buses because of a federal order affecting public transportation.

Cases have been falling statewide and in Boone County in recent days, indicating the state could be on the downside of the omicron surge.

Schmitt, a Republican who is also running for U.S. Senate, sued CPS and 45 other districts around the state last month in response to those districts reinstating temporary mask mandates amid the omicron surge. The surge was sickening too many staff members to provide teachers for classrooms, the districts said.

Schmitt argued that masks are ineffective and against state law.

Schmitt also sued the Jefferson City School District after it reinstated a mask mandate. The district has since dropped that mandate, but the lawsuit remained active as of Thursday morning, according to online court records. In an interview with ABC 17, Schmitt said "everything is still on the table," in the Jefferson City Schools lawsuit.

Check back for updates to this developing story.