Indian River School District passes ‘no-confidence’ motion in opposition to school masks

By Glenn Rolfe
Posted 8/24/21

GEORGETOWN — Parental discretion is advised.

The resounding theme at the Indian River School District’s board of education meeting Monday was that parents and children — not the state nor its Department of Education — should be the ones choosing if a mask will be worn to school.

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Indian River School District passes ‘no-confidence’ motion in opposition to school masks

Posted

GEORGETOWN — Parental discretion is advised.

The resounding theme at the Indian River School District’s board of education meeting Monday was that parents and children — not the state nor its Department of Education — should be the ones choosing if a mask will be worn to school.

At the meeting, most were vehemently opposed to Gov. John Carney’s recent mandate that all students in kindergarten through 12th grades at schools and child care centers wear masks, regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status.

Pleas during extended public commentary at the outdoor meeting preceded the board’s near-unanimous formal challenge to the governor’s order through a “no-confidence” motion, as well as unanimous support on a motion to submit a petition to DOE, its Secretary Dr. Susan Bunting and Gov. Carney to “reconsider or revise the emergency order” placed on the state under Delaware Code.

“My biggest issue is pretty much the fact that the governor and Dr. Bunting, who carries this order, have decided to take away from the local school districts,” said board member Jim Fritz, an outspoken opponent of the mandate. “Why are we elected to a position if we are not here to voice opinions?”

The board’s no-confidence vote, motioned by Dr. Donald Hattier, was 9-1. The vote on Mr. Fritz’s motion to submit the petition was 10-0.

“Since the governor is not following good science in asking for masks and certainly not considering any of the secondary effects of the mandatory isolation — and there are so many — I agree with Mr. Fritz and a lot of other members on the board that they’re looking at one item, which is the masks. And they are not considering the secondary items at all,” Dr. Hattier said.

“Since we are under very strong duress to do what the government has dictated — and that’s what it is, a dictation — I’d like to make a motion that we have a vote of ‘no confidence’ and ask that his minions study and fix what he is creating. What we are doing right now is not going to be good. A vote yes means that you have no confidence in the governor, his staff or (the Division of Public Health).”

Gerald Peden, the lone board member to vote against the no-confidence motion, did back the governor.

“Whether we agree or disagree, I feel Gov. Carney and Dr. Bunting truly feel that they have the students’ and staff’s best interests at heart. Last year’s remote learning was very challenging for most students and the staff. My ultimate goal is to get the students back, in schools with face-to-face instruction, full time, safely. I don’t like it, but with the current quarantine guidelines, I think masks make for the best effort to keep students in schools face-to-face. If there are a few cases of COVID and students are not masked, then hundreds of students may have to quarantine.”

The actions Monday do not remove the governor’s order. At present, it will be in effect for the district’s in-person, five-day-a-week plan for the 2021-22 year, which begins after Labor Day.

“The governor’s mandate/rules are in effect. I want that clarified,” said board president Rodney Layfield. “We are trying to work within the rules that are set in front of us. We’re speaking out as a board. The No. 1 goal is obviously the safety of our students and to keep our students in the classroom.”

Face coverings were not required to be worn by those attending this week’s meeting, held outdoors in Sussex Central High School’s stadium.

Opposition voiced

Opponents of the mask mandate point to studies that show children are at low risk for COVID-19 and that wearing masks poses risks of facial and respiratory problems, anxiety, depression and panic attacks, while diminishing the quality of education.

“There are some that think that those who don’t believe in our children wearing masks believe that COVID isn’t real or doesn’t exist. We know that it exists. We have seen it with our own eyes,” said parent Kristen Cordrey of Millsboro. “We just know that chances of symptomatic children are very low. We also know that the effects of our children mentally and their education are more at risk than the probability of them even getting COVID-19.”

Some believe the mask rule is simply a political power play.

“Call the governor’s bluff. Let him take the political fall should he cut funding … for not following his orders. That would be stupid after 18 months of no learning for our kids. He isn’t that brave,” said Molli Carter of Selbyville.

Angela Miller, also of Selbyville, concurred.

“I understand why the school board feels the need to comply with the mandate. It’s all a political game, and I know the state helps fund our schools,” she said. “Let parents choose what the best direction is for our children. If you want your child to wear a mask, great, do it. If you don’t, great, do that. The lowest-rate group … for COVID is children. Our kids are looking at children now as potential illnesses, instead of potential friendships. I want my children to play with other kids. I want them to embrace an upset child. I want them to love and care and share all the things that I learned as a child. This last year-and-a-half have taken that away from them.”

Ms. Cordrey added that she feels the state is seeking to parent her children.

“Our state is trying to co-parent. And that is not OK,” she said. “Today, I will fight against this mask mandate to know that, later, I’ll be fighting against hybrid and virtual learning and then fighting for my children not attending school because they didn’t have a vaccination card.”

Parent Brian Mooney, who said his son developed dermatitis from having to wear a mask in school, turned to a quote from Benjamin Franklin: “Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.”

Mr. Mooney continued, “If you don’t fight this, I promise you that me, yourselves and the people behind me will be no better than the people who were raised behind the Iron Curtain in the Soviet Union. Masks are not even proven to prevent COVID. It is just recommended by the (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), which, apparently, runs our country now.”

Parent Sheldon Hudson of Millsboro urged the board to join neighboring Worcester County, Maryland, public schools “in not imposing any policies requiring masking, vaccination, quarantining or physical distancing. If such policies have already been adopted, I would ask that they immediately be eliminated on the basis of science.

“Despite the supposed recent uptick in the number of positive tests, since the very beginning of what some refer to as the pandemic, only two Delawareans under the age of 18 have died from COVID-19. Yes, I said two in a state with a population of nearly 1 million people,” he added. “I want you to know that I am sensitive to the fact that each of you is no doubt under tremendous pressure from DPH, DOE and others to go along with so-called popular wisdom in the case at hand. That being said, I would ask you not only to follow your gut but the data I just mentioned.”

The district needs to have alternative learning options, said Patience Drummond and Diana Collins.

“What about the choice for the students who don’t have the opportunity or are afraid to even set foot in a school because they are afraid that they are going to get sick?” said Ms. Drummond.

Ms. Collins continued, “It should be a parent’s choice, a child’s choice. If everything else is a choice, then … continue to use the laptops until they get a handle on what’s going on. If we’re going to do choice, then let’s do choice all the way around.”

Lauren Fritz-Mariner recognized Mr. Fritz, her ex-husband, for spearheading the opposition movement.

“We have a daughter who graduated in 2016 from this school. I now have two small children who were students in the district who I now home-school,” she said. “I implore you this evening, listen to (Mr. Fritz), … who has been feeding you information, documentation, studies, research, and he has tirelessly been fighting for children, and he doesn’t even have a child in the district anymore. Don’t be fearful. Now is the time to stand up when the rest of the country seems to be putting their tail between their legs.”

J.R. Emanuele, president of the Indian River Education Association, also spoke at Monday’s meeting. He said a poll of approximately 800 district employees was split fairly evenly between three choices: Everybody wears masks, no one does, or masks are required only for those unvaccinated.

Other districts debating masks, too

The in-school mask requirement has been the target of vehement opposition at other school board sessions statewide, including Cape Henlopen, Caesar Rodney and Brandywine.

“I want to commend everybody here this evening for your actions and behavior,” said Mr. Fritz. “It is no wonder the Indian River School District continues to lead the way in education and community. This meeting has gone extremely well; no need to end it early or not start at all.”

He added that he researched the emergency mask order, signed Aug. 13 by Dr. Bunting, who was IRSD’s superintendent until joining Gov. Carney’s Cabinet in 2017. It utilized titles 14 and 29 of Delaware Code and is in force for 120 days, with allowance for one extension up to 60 days, Mr. Fritz said.

“It doesn’t come from the governor. It’s not a law that is passed. It’s temporary,” he said. “It does say … that, because this is not a law that is voted on by your state representatives, it is subject to what they call review and reconsideration. It does say that the agency is to review and formally respond.”

Petitions can be sent to the Department of Education, Office of the Secretary, Attn: Regulation Review, 401 Federal St., Suite 2, Dover, DE 19901. Email petitions to regulations.comment@doe.k12.de.us.

“I encourage any group or individual out there to (send a petition),” Mr. Fritz said. “Not that I expect Susan Bunting or the governor to change their minds, (but) it is the formal process. I would love to see tons of people doing this and inundating her office with paperwork.”

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