Jenks Board Of Education Passes Temporary Mask Requirement For Students, Staff & Visitors

Thursday night, the Jenks Public Schools Board of Education unanimously passed a mask requirement for the district, in which families may choose to opt out.

There were some tense moments with passionate parents and board members saying they heard from hundreds of people before the meeting.

Police escorted one woman out of the meeting, which brought in a full house because of a vote on a temporary mask requirement for all students, staff and visitors. Before the board voted, there were public comments from both sides.

"We've got to move the needle on keeping kids safe, especially ones like mine, who are under the age of 12 and aren't eligible for a vaccine,” said one father.

Another parent asked how the requirement would be enforced.

"Because in the injunction, it says that there will be options for parents to opt out,” said the mother. “And if that's the case, who's going to stand in the hall and say, ‘You don't have a mask on. Did your mom sign that paper?’"

Board vice president, Melissa Abdo, explained to News On 6 how long the requirement could last.

"I think we're going to revisit it at every regularly scheduled meeting, and so we'll just need to consider what's going on in the community and how the rate of spread is effecting and what's happening internally at our school sites," said Abdo.

Derek Taylor, who has a sophomore, said he will opt out for his son.

"I was disappointed in tonight's meeting,” said Taylor. “I felt that the process should have been an opt in as opposed to an opt out."

The requirement goes into effect Tuesday.

Taylor and other parents said they still have a lot of questions, and the district said more information is coming. The district has 12,400 students and 1,600 staff members.