Roughly 21 percent of West Ada students opt-out of mask mandate (so far)

BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — Class is in session at the West Ada School District, but as students head back to class one thing is on everyone's mind.

The pandemic - but mainly masks.

"Right now 21 percent of our students have opted out for masks," said Char Jackson, public information officer at the West Ada School District.

The West Ada School Board voted Tuesday night to start school with mandatory masking - allowing parents to opt their children out in person.

On Wednesday, that number ballooned to over 3,700 parents lining up around the building keeping their option to refuse masking.

To date, over 8,400 students have now opted out.

To keep this in perspective - West Ada has just over 40,000 students in its district - the largest in Idaho.

Parents have through Friday at 4 p.m. to opt-out after that opting out is up to each individual school.

"The board's decision on Tuesday just reflected that they really wanted to give parents that choice to mask their children," Jackson explains. "So now they have that choice and utilizing it."

As for teachers and staff, masks are also opt-out.

According to the West Ada opt-out form, teachers and staff have to quarantine for 10-14 days if exposed and not wearing a mask.

And having to use sick leave during that quarantine.

"I was out at a few schools I saw parents walking their kids to school, we did have a lot that wore masks, a lot didn't. And teachers were welcoming students at their doors and you could clearly see they were happy to have them back," Jackson shares.

Meanwhile, many parents are upset over the decision to opt-out of masks - saying safety is their No. 1 concern as COVID-19 cases continue to rise across the Treasure Valley.

The next West Ada School Board meeting is set for Sept. 17 and CBS 2 News will be there to bring you the latest.

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