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Templeton School Board discusses mask mandate 

Trustees will convene next week to review mask mandate

– At a standing-room-only school board meeting attended by over a hundred members of the public in person, and another 250 members of the public on Zoom, the Templeton Unified School District met Thursday evening to discuss face mask policies.

After the meeting started, Superintendent Aaron Asplund introduced the agenda item on face masks saying “Paso Robles elected to adopt a resolution that made masks optional,” which was met with cheering the crowd gathered.

In public comments, several parents shared their opposition to mask mandates. One mother spoke of her middle school daughter being left out in the weather for not wearing a mask. “They are not animals. They are human beings,” the mother said.

Others had a different perspective. Susana A. Lopez, Ph.D., brought her five-year-old daughter on Zoom to talk about how masks do not harm her and help her younger sibling stay safe from COVID-19.

Dr. Nelson Yamagata, president of the board, and a neurologist affiliated with Twin Cities Community Hospital commented “What we’ve done during this pandemic is really pretty good,” referring to the policies of masking, social distancing, contact tracing, and hand washing.

Trustee Ted Dubost said he was “doubled vaxxed and boosted,” and that more discussion might be needed on the mask topic. Trustee Mendi Swan commented that her entire household was vaccinated and though she was “completely over the mask,” that mask decisions should be handled at the state level.

Governor Gavin Newsom is scheduled to give a public statement on face mask recommendations Monday, Feb. 28. It is unclear what position will be proposed by the Governor.

At the suggestion of board member Matt Vierra, the board will not wait two weeks to meet but will come back on Tuesday, March 1, to immediately incorporate the Feb. 28 information from Newsom into board policy, or to consider parting ways with state policy.

The Templeton School Board meets on the heels of the Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022 decision by Paso Robles Joint Unified School District to no longer enforce the Governor’s face mask policies.

The next Templeton Unified School District meeting will take place at 6 p.m., Tuesday, March 1, at 925 Old County Road in Templeton, in a large meeting space across the street from the school district office.

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The news staff of the Paso Robles Daily News wrote or edited this story from local contributors and press releases. The news staff can be reached at info@pasoroblesdailynews.com.