By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Casey Herman of Hays has filed for a seat in the 2021 Hays USD 489 school board election.
Herman, a parent of a USD 489 student, spoke to the USD 489 school board on Monday about his concerns about continued requirements for students and staff to wear masks.
Board members and district officials have made no indication they plan to continue to require masks in the fall. School has released for the summer.
As of April 26, the school district eased mask requirements, but did not eliminate them.
Students were allowed to remove their masks if they chose while they were seated in class.
Students were still required to wear masks:
• On district transportation during regular transportation routes and during transportation for activities.
• When entering school buildings.
• When in congested hallways or confined areas.
• When standing in food lines.
"I am here today to demand this board votes to remove the masks for students and staff," Herman said on May 17. "I believe this board is completely out of touch with the community.
"Have you been outside? No one is wearing a mask."
He said USD 489 is the only place where kids are wearing a mask. He said his daughter told him half of the students were not wearing their masks at school and in the hallways.
"Why is this board so afraid?" he said. "All I have seen is fear from you and what the media tells you to be afraid of.
"As I mentioned, you are out of touch, so I don't care how you vote, but the community needs to know how you stand on this issue. We have an election coming, and the community needs to know who listens to the community and those who think they can tell you the medical decisions to make for your child."
Herman said he thought the board would keep masks indefinitely. He also complained he attended the last school board meeting at which several staff members were not wearing their masks.
He also complained that masks were required of students and parents at the recent Hays Middle School strings concert.
"Does this board care about the community at all? No, we are not your comrades. Leave your politics at home. The community is sick of politics at school.
"I am running for this school board. I filed months ago, because I believe this school board doesn't care about what the community thinks, and I am not alone. There are more regular people like me, who will find the time we don't have to ensure the community's parents are well represented with the kids put first and politics never."
He noted other school districts in the area eliminated mask requirements.
Tom Wasinger has also filed for the election.
Three at-large seats will be up for election this year. Those include the seats held by Mike Walker, Lance Bickle and Nuchelle Chance. None of those board members have filed for re-election.
Chance was appointed to finish the term vacated by Sophia Rose Young, who moved out of the district.
The deadline to file for election is noon June 1. The primary will be Aug. 3, and the general election will be Nov. 2.