The Examiner U-46 News Feed

No masking this issue, U-46 parents speak out

By Seth Hancock
  Parents are demanding accountability in School District U-46 as the threat of forced masking remains dangling over the heads of students.
  As previously reported, Superintendent Tony Sanders announced the district would go to mask optional, although calling it “a mask-recommended environment.” Sanders has also announced masks would be optional on buses.
  However, Sanders still believes he has authority to force masks at any point. After many school districts went optional after the Feb. 4 temporary restraining order with some U-46 families included in the case, Sanders kept the mandate until a Feb. 17 appellate court upheld the restraining order.
  Joey D’Alessio, a father, thanked the district for “making it optional,” but called it “long overdue” as one of several parents to address the Board of Education at its Monday, Feb. 28 meeting.
  “But in the words though, that you put out Mr. Sanders, at the snap of your finger you can just make it all go away and it comes back,” D’Alessio said. “And I’m the guy that’s going to tell you it’s not going to happen.”
  Rebecca Englese said her 6-year-old now has a suspension on his record for not properly wearing a mask, and the district refuses to remove that suspension despite the legal wins for parents. She said there needs to be accountability, and that starts with firing Sanders.
  “We have a larger issue that needs to be addressed,” Englese said. “Tony Sanders is reckless in his decision making, disregards the law and is a liability for the district. He has violated every family’s rights by enacting illegal policies. Whether you are for or against masks, Mr. Sanders is a threat to us all thinking he is above the law.”
  Another mother, Kerene Tilton, said her 5-year-old was suspended from kindergarten after the district denied a doctor’s recommendation that her child use a face shield instead of a mask. She did say that suspension has since been removed.
  Other parents said staff this year have threatened to remove recess from students over masks and forced students into isolation.
  Ultimately, some parents want the board to start doing its job and not allow the authoritarian approach to continue.
  “You should be here to represent us, not govern us,” said Agnieszka Bajorek.