After listening to multiple parents address Summerland School's mask mandate during the public participation segment of the March 16 school board meeting, members voted to make masks optional for students and staff, effective March 17.

Patron Dustin Wright asked board members if they had changed their minds about the mandated mask policy since the last meeting.

"I feel like we've been through this three times already," he said.

Several patrons listed area schools that have recently relaxed mask mandates, including Plainview and Chambers.

Several patrons commented that whether a student wear...