Mask Mandate Rescinded

North Idaho College Board of Trustees removed the mask mandate in a 3-2 vote on Thursday.

After much deliberation, the board of five resolved to withdraw the mask mandate put in place Aug. 23, despite recommendations from the president not to rush through change in policy. 

In agreement with President Rick MacLennan were board members Christie Wood and Ken Howard. 

In an impassioned show of opinion, trustee Howard stated concerns that he “[has] not had an opportunity as a trustee to review anything that the Panhandle Health reviewed” continuing on, he said that “when a statute says that the policy must be adopted in consultation with the district that means the trustees, not one trustee, not two trustees, but all of the trustees.”

Once Howard had finished speaking, a round of applause escaped the audience but was soon silenced by chair Todd Banducci. 

Contrary concerns, though, were shared by trustees Greg McKenzie and Michael Barnes, who worried that the mask mandate will reduce school attendance numbers of those with medical or learning disabilities. With the drop deadline set at Aug. 29, they found the removal of this policy to be a time sensitive matter. 

 “This is a crisis.” McKenzie said, “For some of these students, this is their only opportunity, and they have voiced their concerns.” 

After nearly two hours of debate a vote decided to remove the mandate. Trustees McKenzie and Barnes voted for the change in policy while trustees Wood and Howard voted not to. Finalizing the results, Chair Banducci voted for the policy change.