Though California and Los Angeles County announced it would drop its indoor mask mandate for schools by March 12, the LA Unified School District (LAUSD) must negotiate with its local teachers union before it can lift its mandate. In recent months, schools across California have faced mounting pressure to lift indoor mask mandates from students and parents; however, the state’s largest school district cannot change its indoor mask requirement without first negotiating an existing contract with United Teachers of LA (UTLA). The agreement includes a requirement for “enforced masking” for the entire 2021–22 school year. According to the agreement, either party can request to meet and bargain over potential changes to the mask requirement after Dec. 1. An LAUSD spokesperson told The Epoch Times Feb. 28 the district “acknowledges” the state and county’s mask updates and will “remain engaged with our labor partners” as they consider an updated masking policy. …