School board decides to keep masks optional at West Fargo

West Fargo, North Dakota – A voting regarding the mask requirements was held in the West Fargo Public Schools on Wednesday and the board decided to keep mask optional.

Before voting, there was a public debate whether masks should be mandatory or not, or to leave the decision to each parent individually. Students and parents shared their thoughts on mask requirements.

“We just want the freedom of choice and realizing that if you put a mask mandate when some of us aren’t even doing it, we’re putting our kids at a level where they have less choice than we do.” Amanda Sturlaugson said, a WFPS parent.

“I can say with all assurance that all of us want the kids to be in school. Masks, anti-masks, I think we can all agree that we want our kids in school. But to do that we need to be proactive with our safety measures instead of reactive,” Ashley Muscha said, a WFPS parent.

The board also voted that masks will be required and the district will move towards online learning only if certain percentage of students in the school or multiple students in classrooms test positive to Covid-19.