The Examiner U-46 News Feed

Dist. U-46 mask mandate controversy continues

By Seth Hancock
  Parents continued to express their opposition to the mask mandates and other measures regarding COVID-19, as well as opposition to controversial curriculum items, in School District U-46.
  During public comments at the Board of Education meeting on Monday, Aug. 9, 17 people addressed their concerns with more there in support, relegated to an overflow room as the district continues to restrict access to meetings. The meeting began 30 minutes late due to a tornado warning, and the district would not allow the public access to the building for safety if they were not wearing a mask.
  The public comments concluded with Superintendent Tony Sanders and Sue Kerr, the board’s president, disputing public commenters on a sex-education bill, waiting a signature from Gov. JB Pritzker, causing a contentious back and forth with the audience.
  That interaction helped to strengthen claims from some speakers that Sanders is causing divisions, including Melissa Varner who suggested Sanders should stop making social media posts that “mock parents who want their kids unmasked.” Varner also asked the board and administration to start providing their own data on why they continue mandates rather than hiding behind state and health agencies.
  No public comments were made supporting the district’s plans, but some emailed comments were made for and against. One supporting Sanders came from Debbie Caruso who wrote: “Please do not listen to the horrible humans that do not care one bit about kids.”
  Others opposed the district’s propagating for the COVID-19 shots, Maciej Dluzniewski noting a comment on CNN this past weekend by Rochelle Walensky, the CDC director, who said “what they (the shots) can’t do… is prevent transmission.”
  Mask mandates for all is the plan which Sanders expects “for the foreseeable future,” while the district also announced taxpayer-funded meals, which the district called “free,” would be given to all students throughout the year.
  Lori Kelly said she was “speaking on behalf of hundreds of U-46 employees who are afraid to speak up in fear of retaliation from you, the board.” She asked: “If we do not comply to this tyranny, are you prepared to fire us all?”
  The board did approve of a resolution that evening expressing their support of the district following what they are told to do by state and local agencies. The vote was 6-1, Dawn Martin voting no because the resolution states the district will be helping develop the health metrics which she said is not the district’s work.