Roughly 50 parents and students gathered outside the Luverne School District office Tuesday morning to peacefully protest the new mask mandate.
Parents were notified around 6 p.m. Monday that all pre-K through 12th-grade students and district staff would need to wear facial coverings indoors beginning the following morning.
Rock County Deputy Mike Westerbuer informed those who were gathering to do so peacefully, not to enter the building, and not to impede anyone from entering the building.
Those gathered said they would do so peacefully, but said they wanted a conversation with school board members and administrators about the decision-making process.
“We felt it (the decision) was done under the table,” said parent Ashley Connell. “All we are trying to do is stand up for our rights and the rights of our children.”
The group wants to have direct input with the board.
Superintendent Craig Oftedahl used email to inform parents and guardians of the mask mandate decision late Monday. (See related story.)
Parents and students began gathering about 7:15 a.m. Tuesday morning at the entrance of the district offices.
Parents Tom Thone and Brad Sieve talked privately with Oftedahl for about 25 minutes.
Both questioned the decision-making process, data used to make the decision, and the frustration of not having more parental input before decisions are made.
Thone and Sieve agreed to convey information back to the group about a special school board meeting to hear parental concerns.
The date and time of the meeting was not available by the time the Star Herald went to press.