The Artesia School Board did not vote Monday on whether or not to go against the public education department’s mask mandates. The board did unanimously approve a resolution encourging the state PED to allow more local control over school district policies. The resolution vote took place prior to public comment from over two dozen residents who strongly encouraged the board to take a vote to make the mask mandate optional in the Srtesia School District. The board in executive session, met with an attorney representing the Gallup-McKinley County Schools, and that district’s current lawsuit against the PED over local control. 18 districts and one provate school have already joined the Gallup District’s lawsuit, according to Superintendent John Ross Null. The Artesia School Board did not take any action regarding the lawsuit at Monday’s meeting following a 90-minute executive session.