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TOP STORY OF THE DAY, brought to you free by WICU: ‘We've heard you’ about face mask concerns, CCSC says
It was a packed house during Thursday's school board meeting at the Central Administration Office.
Many parents and community members came to voice concerns about mandating facemasks for students and staff members.
The Clay Community School Corporation's 20-21 ReEntry Plan - similar to last year's Road Map for COVID-19 - was the first order of business.
Superintendent Jeff Fritz said the plan needed to be updated with a minor change in the language to comply with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's current guidelines.
"A new bullet point in there says, as per CDC and the Indiana State Department of Health guidelines, face coverings or masks are 'recommended' in the schools," said Fritz about the slight change approved by the Clay County Health Department and the corporation's attorney. "What this does, it changes from the word 'optional' to 'recommended.' The reason we did this, this new wording reflects the guidance of both these health organizations and aligns us better with the intent of the guidelines."
The board approved the change, with Fritz echoing to the crowd that face masks are not required. However, the Delta Variant is causing the number of positive cases to spike, forcing the county into the RED Advisory Category on the 2-Week Metric Score at the Indiana State Department of Health.
"But I will tell you, COVID in our county and in our schools is extremely fluid, and it is changing every day," said Fritz. "So we will continue to look at this. We'll continue to monitor our results with our local health officials."
Several parents signed up to speak at the meeting but declined when offered time.
The first speaker has been attending the meetings over the summer: "I want you all to know that I am not anti-mask. And I'm not pro mask. I simply stand for the right to choose.
"We're Americans, and we live in a great country, a free country. I choose freedom, and I believe that every person in this room, in the city, in the state, everywhere in this country has the right to choose what's right for themselves and their families and their children."
The speaker stated it was a patriotic duty and right to stand up for what you believe, and people and children don't have to do things just because they are told to.
"Let's all unite and stand together; let's make decisions that move us forward and not hold us back," said the mother of local students. "Even if it makes us unpopular and goes against what we've been ordered to do. Our children are our future. And they learn every day from all of us. What are we teaching them? To be compliant, do what they're told at all costs, to put all of our trust in the government, and not ask questions? Or are we teaching them to stand up for themselves? To ask questions, to research, not just assume. To say 'no' to what is wrong. To not be bullied. To stand firm in their beliefs, values, and faith?"
The second speaker works in the medical field, and is concerned that enough is not being done to protect children.
"All right, I think we all can agree that we want our children to remain in school. Studies show in-school learning supports pediatric social and emotional development and allows access to social services that the underprivileged in our community may otherwise lack," she said, adding that science-based evidence and health experts' opinions should guide decision making, not emotions.
"Masks are a safe, simple, effective tool in the prevention of respiratory disease. So, I'm left wondering; what is the threshold at which Clay Community Schools will enforce the recommendations? Is it 120 kids infected in a day, or 100? Are we waiting until a child dies? Where do we draw the line, say enough is enough, and decide to do the right thing to protect our kids while making sure they get to continue in classroom learning."
A third speaker equated the divisive situation created by COVID-19 to a criminal act on society.
"When we all come together, we work better. We are more beautiful when we come together," she said. "So let's all come together. Let's quit dividing ourselves as vaccinated and unvaccinated."
Board President Tom Reberger thanked the group for attending the meetings and being involved, which was a sentiment that all board members shook their heads in agreement. He, and the other board members, appreciated the professional and respectful way the group presented varying ideas during the media.
"We thank you for coming. We've heard you," said Reberger about the concerns about the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. "I can't let this meeting end without thanking the parents who have been here. I've seen lots of footage on national television of board meetings that are just literally out of control because people aren't listening to each other. I just want to sum this up by saying we are listening to each other. We are going to get through this. We are going to make some tough decisions in the days ahead and weeks. I can assure you that every decision this board makes will be in the kids' best interest."