Central Coast schools ban Hallowen masks
October 31 is a day intended for children and adults to have a little fun and dress up as something they’re not.
But this Halloween, Soledad High School set costume restrictions which prohibited students from wearing masks to school. School officials said it was for safety reasons.
Soledad High wasn’t alone.
I checked in with Greenfield High and Alisal High in Salinas, where the masks were banned too. Not everyone dressed up for Halloween at Soledad High, but those who did had to have their face showing one way or the other.
“This is the first time ever that my high school at Soledad High where they ban clown masks,” said Christian Chan, a Soledad High School student.
The ban isn’t just about clown masks and according to Soledad High’s assistant principal, Nathan Walker, it’s not a new policy either.
“For four years we’ve had the same policy and it’s worked out very well here. So Halloween is no different than any other day. We do not allow full facial masks, but we want our kids to enjoy the great costumes,” said Walker.
Student costumes included hippies, bunny rabbits, even dinosaurs. The one costume you didn’ see on the Aztec campus was a creepy clown. Around the nation random sightings of creepy clowns have made a lot of people nervous. Just one month ago on the Central Coast, a teenager was arrested for making a bomb threat against Monterey County schools on social media using the image of a scary clown.
“To me, the whole thing is really dumb and there is a certain point to it where it can be funny and a prank. But when it goes to a certain level when you have to ban it, at least at a high school – at my high school – then I think it’s gone too far,” said Chan.
Monday night, trick or treaters will fill the neighborhoods. Soledad police are doubling patrols to make sure everyone stays safe.
“Just because we have a lot of activity, we have a lot of kids out and about on the streets. It’s just always one of those nights because people are running around in costumes. It’s just better to have the visibility,” said Soledad Police Chief Eric Sills.
Sills said since he’s been Soledad’s chief they haven’t had any major issues on Halloween. He hopes this year is no different.
“Trick or treating – jhust have a good time you know, don’t ruin it for others,” said Chan.
As for banning the masks, the Monterey County Office of Education said it’s a local decision, and districts and schools establish their own costume policies.
