Whitehall Schools Addresses Mask Mandate

As you have likely heard, following the rescinding of the statewide mask mandate in Montana, the Jefferson County Health Board has issued a new replacement mask mandate, requiring our students, faculty, and administration to maintain masking throughout the school day and at school events. It is important to the School Board that we implement policies that are representative of the needs of the community, and that our actions reflect the will of those that we serve. As such, as new developments surrounding the pandemic arise, we have been proactive in seeking the best available options for our school districts.

We understand that many members of this community disagree with the new masking mandate, and feel that the JCHB is overreaching their authority as a non-elected board. In order to better understand our duties as trustees, and to suss out what options are available to our schools, we have been in consultation with the Whitehall School Attorney, Bea Kaleva, and have been advised that it is in the best interest, legally and financially, of the Whitehall School Districts to comply with the Jefferson County mask mandate as it is written.

While this is undoubtedly frustrating to those in our community that would like a different result, we would like to make it clear that we hear you. Upon notification of the lifting of the statewide mask mandate, and the subsequent update from the Jefferson County Health Board, we conducted a survey of the parents of our students. The overwhelming majority of those that responded (85%) favored a policy of individual choice for masking. A survey of our staff yielded a similar result (80%). It appears, from community input and the results of our surveys, that there is a significant variance between public opinion, and what the Jefferson County Health Board has mandated. Because of this, we requested a legal clarification from our attorney as to who has the authority to effect an immediate change in the status of the mandate. We have been assured that under the rules of Montana local governance, the County Health Board serves at the discretion of our County Commissioners. Therefore, we encourage those members of the community that desire change, to make that desire well known to your elected Commissioners empowered to make such a change.

The Trustees of the Whitehall School Board will continue to listen to those we represent, and will do our best to maintain our school as a safe and effective center of learning for our children.