It’s all about local control and personal choices.

The Ripon Unified school board echoed that prior to passing a resolution Monday calling for state officials to recommend and not require the COVID-19 vaccine for students and staff.

Trustee Chad Huskey noted that the resolution was put together via a joint effort with the board and administrators.

He called it “a request for control for district and its families.”

Last month, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a first-in-the-nation mandate requiring all eligible students to vaccinated to attend in-person classes at public and private schools. At RUSD, families along with staff and students have expressed their desire that this recent state mandates be optional.

Trustees looked at findings from several studies – per CDC – that suggest that the COVID-19 transmission among students is relatively rare, in particular, when prevention strategies are in place, citing: “fewer children have been sick with COVID-19 compared to adults.

“According to Mayo Clinic, while all children are capable of getting the virus that causes COVID-19 – most children have mild symptoms or none.”

RUSD, per the CDC, indicated that the positive rate for the coronavirus for those age 17 and under make up 11 percent of the total positivity rate while that same age group (0 to 17) make up 1 percent of death.

Furthermore, the resolution states that “the Board of Trustees of the Ripon Unified School District approve his resolution to advocate for the CDPH and Gov. Newsom to reevaluate the vaccine mandate for all students, teachers and staff” in the district.

Trustees Kit Oase supports the vaccine. His colleague, Vince Hobbs, is he’s not “an anti-vaxxer.” He believes in parents having a choice in the matter.

“This takes away from where here to do – teaching and learning,” Superintendent Ziggy Robeson said.

Families at the meeting thanked the board for their continued support.