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USD 506 board rejects immediate indoor mask mandate, approves family survey and special meeting
Summary
After lengthy discussion, the board tied 3-3 on a proposed nine‑week indoor mask mandate; the board then voted 6-1 to send a mask preference survey to families and to meet Aug. 19 to review results (Dr. Kolette Smith cast the lone no vote).
The Labette County Unified School District 506 Board of Education on Aug. 9 voted against an immediate districtwide indoor mask mandate but approved a districtwide family survey and a special meeting to review results.
Assistant Superintendent Shane Holtzman reviewed the district’s COVID‑19 protocols and procedures before board discussion. Board member Dr. Kolette Smith moved to adopt an indoor mask mandate for the first nine weeks of school; Brian Harlow seconded. The motion failed in a 3-3 tie. No individual vote breakdown for the failed motion was recorded in the minutes.
Following the tie, Board member Kevin Cole moved to send mask surveys to all USD 506 families and to schedule a special board meeting on Aug. 19 to consider the survey results; Rich Falkenstien seconded. The motion passed 6-1, with Dr. Kolette Smith recorded as the lone no vote. The board did not specify the survey wording or the deadline for collecting responses during the Aug. 9 meeting.
The special meeting on Aug. 19 is intended to allow the board to consider family feedback before making further decisions about masking for the start of the school year.
