Mike Gael, a member of the Missoula County Public Schools Board of Trustees, spoke to KGVO News on Friday and related what happened at a recent MCPS Trustees meeting that was closed down because he refused to wear a mask.
“We’ve had multiple in person meetings, and I’ve never worn a mask at any of them,” Gael began. “I’ve been asked to wear them at previous meetings and I politely said no, just as politely as I responded the other night, and the whole thing was orchestrated completely in response to how I came out in support of (OPI Superintendent) Elsie Arntzen over our current superintendent and his ‘poison pen’ letter, and it was set up and organized by the chair and it was poorly executed on her part.”
Gael recalled the details.
“I’ve never worn the mask in a meeting, she asked me to wear a mask and I said, No, I don’t need one,” he said. “You have years and we’re more than sufficient to keep right on going, and she reminded me of board policy. And I’m like, that’s nice. But state law supersedes board policy and the law says I don’t have to wear one. I’m given that choice. Grace Decker made a little comment and my fellow trustee and my other fellow trustee made a similar comment and said she was scared to be in the same room with me even though she was sitting some 30 feet away from me. So I’m sorry if that’s your attitude about it. Then, Diane closed the meeting at that point.”
Gael explained his stance on mandatory masking.
“I’m not anti mask, I am pro choice,” he said. “I think this is a free country. We want to get back to normal and getting rid of those masks is one step to doing that. If you feel comfortable walking around in town or in your car, or wherever you happen to be with a mask on, then I say more power to you, you should you have that right to do so. But at the same time you need to respect the rights of those that say ‘you know what? I’m quite capable of making up my own mind and deciding whether to or where not to…
