Pateros school board emergency meetings discuss mask policy

Editor's Note: On Feb. 28 Gov. Inslee changed the lifting of the Mask Mandate to March 11, from March  21

PATEROS – The Pateros School District Board of Directors in accordance with board policy 1400 governing emergency meetings convened two on Feb. 14 and again on Feb. 18 to discuss the school mask policy, parent concerns, and possible protests.
As of the Feb. 14 the statewide mask mandate was in effect despite a recommendation from state superintendent Chris Reykdal to Gov. Jay Inslee. In a Feb. 9 statement to the Governor and state Department of Health Reykdal said:
“I believe it is safe and timely to eliminate the statewide masking requirement for students and allow for a decision by local health officials. I recommend the Governor and Department of Health change the guidance to reflect this in the coming weeks.”
A day before the Feb. 18 Pateros meeting Gov. Inslee released a statement announcing that the mask mandate will be lifted on March 21. While that came as welcome news to many parents the mask mandate remains in effect until that date.
Reykdal advised that school districts will suffer financial repercussions if they disregard the state mask mandate.
The board discussed the school’s options in the event of mask non-compliance. Parents of a non-compliant students would be contacted to pick up their children school. If that failed the students would attend an in-house alternate education program in the portable classroom.
The regular school board meeting scheduled for Feb. 28 included the roster of new and returning spring sports coaches. New spring sports coaches include:
Erik Gonzalez – varsity boys head soccer coach
Andrea Asmussen – varsity softball assistant coach
Returning spring caches include:
Teagan Straub – varsity volleyball head coach
Erika Varrelman – varsity volleyball assistant coach
Marcus Stennes – junior high track coach
Erik Romero – varsity track coach
John Slater – varsity softball head coach
Sean Hiltz – varsity tennis coach