MINNEAPOLIS – A group of Minnesota parents has filed a lawsuit against the state and Gov. Tim Walz, seeking a statewide school mask mandate.
The group, Parents Advocating for Safe Schools or PASS, consists of parents in school districts that aren’t requiring masks this year. Their argument stems from the state constitution’s provision that the state must provide students an “adequate” education.
The parents say that includes schools having to be safe, and without masks, they say schools aren’t safe.
An attorney representing the group says many are healthcare professionals, including a number of medical doctors, and they feel that not having a facial masking policy in schools exposes their children, and others as well, and not just students, faculty, teachers, administrators, visitors, to the hazards of COVID.
The lawsuit was filed in Ramsey County District Court It asks the court to direct Walz to declare a peacetime emergency and issue an executive order for a statewide school mask mandate. Tanick says the court could also order Walz to at least declare the mandate in public schools.
