Parents suing Portage Public Schools over student mask mandate

PORTAGE, Mich. — Parents are suing Portage Public Schools leaders over the district's student mask mandate.

The lawsuit claims Portage Superintendent Mark Bielang doesn't have the power to mandate masks -- because he serves in an unelected position.

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All seven of Portage's elected school board members are also named in the lawsuit.

It argues the school board is breaking the law by allowing the school mask mandate to continue -- even though the Kalamazoo County Health Department rescinded its school mask order last month.

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“We feel it should be parent choice,” said Kelly Sackett, a parent who’s suing Portage Public Schools. “If children want to wear masks to school, they can go right ahead and wear masks to school, but it should always be the parents’ choice. It should not be mandated."

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Portage Public Schools said it's unable to comment on a pending lawsuit.