Parents against COVID vaccine mandate urge Oakdale school board to ‘do something’
Parents packed an Oakdale school board meeting on Monday to protest Gov. Gavin Newsom’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for students, urging trustees to fight it.
Under the governor’s Oct. 1 announcement, students at all California public and private K-12 schools will be required to be vaccinated against the coronavirus to attend in-person classes, following full authorization of the shots for their age groups from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This could apply to grades seven through 12 in July 2022, according to Newsom’s office.
“There’s a lot that can happen between now and then,” Superintendent Dave Kline told The Modesto Bee.
Parents on Monday asked the trustees of Oakdale Joint Unified School District to not enforce the vaccine mandate, pleading for the ability to make medical choices for their children. They carried signs with slogans including “My Child, My Choice, No Vaccine” and wore shirts bearing “We do not co-parent with the government” and other messages.
At one point, someone standing near the podium collapsed. After a brief pause to check if the person was OK, public comment continued.
Parent Melissa Goodman said she wants to fight with the trustees, not against them. She asked board members to send emails, make phone calls and protest at the state Capitol on Oct. 18.
“This is me saying to you, do something,” Goodman said. “Stand with us.”
At least three of the five board members have said publicly that they disagree with vaccine requirements for children.
“I do not believe in forcing vaccinations on anyone,” trustee Tina Shatswell said during the meeting.
At a board meeting in August, the Oakdale Leader quoted Shatswell as saying, “I would resign as a board member before I would ever let them tell you or me, or any of us we’re going to vaccinate your children whether you like it or not.”
Board member Michael House told The Bee he is not against vaccines — he said he got the COVID-19 vaccine himself. But, he said, “I think that we all should be given that opportunity to decide for ourselves.”
“It’s a freedom-of-choice thing for me,” he said.
House told The Bee he plans to write letters to the Capitol opposing the mandate.
“I would do and say anything, almost anything, I can to be sure that no child is vaccinated against their parents’ will, and that no child is denied an education because of vaccine status,” House said.
The vaccine mandate includes exemptions for medical reasons and personal beliefs. Students who do not comply can enroll in independent study.
Kline said he’s glad the board members are voicing their opinions. “I think they have every right to do that,” he said.
Masks ‘not gonna happen’
The Oakdale district enrolls about 5,500 students, according to its website. The Bee counted nearly 100 people at the meeting, extending into another room and an outdoor courtyard. Most people did not wear masks.
Shatswell acknowledged Stanislaus County’s indoor mask mandate at the beginning of the meeting. “Obviously, it’s not gonna happen tonight,” she said.
She and the rest of the trustees wore masks. Kline said the board abided by the county’s mandate. “I think we did our part in saying that there is a mask mandate,” he said.
Stanislaus County leaders said the indoor mask requirement will end when COVID-19 cases drop below 20 per 100,000 per day, which could happen this week.
Parent Gina Boysen said in public comment that those attending the meeting were not against vaccines or masks, but believe in choice.
She asked board members if they have children themselves. “Do you think the government knows your children better than you?” she posed.
“Nothing makes sense anymore,” Boysen said.
This story was originally published October 12, 2021 at 3:44 PM.
