A mask mandate issued by the New Mexico Public Education Department is already facing opposition, most notably from the Floyd School Board of Roosevelt County which passed a resolution that deems the NMPED COVOD-19 guidelines for the upcoming school year as optional in its district.

The new NMPED guidelines come after an announcement from Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham that masks are required for all staff and students in elementary schools regardless of vaccination status.ABC7 reported.  In junior and high school, teachers and staff must provide proof that they are fully vaccinated to void the mask requirement, according to the new guidelines.

A voluntary student surveillance testing program would focus on testing 25% of un-vaccinated students that participate in sports or extracurricular activities on a weekly basis, while mandatory testing for 25% of un-vaccinated teaching staff would be enforced.

Ryan Stewart resigned as New Mexico Public Education Department secretary after blasting the Floyd district. | Twitter

Other restrictions that the governor put on those that have not been vaccinated when going back to school included students being segregated based on their vaccination status and sending students home for refusing to wear a mask.

During a special meeting on July 26, the Floyd School Board passed a defiant resolution that confirmed teaching staff and students will not be subjected to surveillance testing or be required to wear masks or practice social distancing in their schools, which drew a swift rebuke from then-PED Secretary Ryan Stewart on July 27.

"A failure by the board to provide written confirmation of a vote rescinding the offending course of action and/or adopting a course of action that conforms to the published health and safety requirements by noon on Tuesday, August 3, 2021, or any further violations of COVID-Safe Practices, could result in adverse licensure actions against licensed individuals, suspension of school board governance, and other applicable enforcement actions," Stewart wrote in a letter to the school board that was posted by The Roosevelt Review.

"Any punitive actions by the board against the Superintendent, other administrators, or school or district staff for following COVID-Safe Practices may result in immediate suspension of school board governance. Furthermore, the District will be subject to ongoing monitoring and site visits to ensure compliance with health protocols."

Leon Nall, president of the Floyd Municipal School Board said the board received counsel from credible presenters and authors that highlighted the ineffectiveness of mask use when preventing the spread of COVID-19 and the undesirable side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine.

"The motion was made and passed to proceed without required mask usage. Mask will be optional and choosing to use will be the decision of the individual in the school district," Nall wrote in reponse, The Roosevelt Review reported.

After demanding the Floyd School Board change course on their resolution, Stewart resigned from his position on July 29th, according to Pinon Post.