the health dept guidelines they are supposed to follow are ridiculous

Who says they have to follow the health dept guidelines?

You are a parent in that school. You have the power to take control back. The health dept has no legal authority to demand anything. The school complies because they think they do. There is NO LAW that the school is following. I will say that again:

THERE IS NO LAW THAT THE SCHOOL IS FOLLOWING!

Ask them to show the law that they are following.

Following a "mandate" is a choice. It hands over authoritarian rule to someone, bypassing law and the structure of our government entirely.

Tell the school to stop. Force the school to stop. Don't do it alone, get other parents and force the school to stop.

You have the power. I believe in you.