Board members of Oswego-based School District 308 Thursday night decided to end their meeting early after disruptions as parents looking for an end to the school mask mandate let their feelings be known.
The board’s regular meeting was originally to be a virtual one out of public safety concerns. However, the district decided to hold an in-person meeting at the Oswego East High School Performing Arts Center Thursday night. The meeting was also streamed live.
District 308 Superintendent John Sparlin announced that the board would not take action on the mask mandate but would do so Feb. 28.
The District 308 School Board at the start of the school year approved a policy regarding face masks and a 21-page safety plan that outlines a mitigation strategy to help ensure in-person learning for the entire school year, the superintendent said.
“The face mask policy is one layer of our plan that was put into place to help ensure we would get through this year with full-time, in-person learning which we have been able to do,” he said.
He acknowledged the district has had to change or modify protocols in response to the ever-changing conditions of the pandemic.
“I know many of you are here to share your opinion on changing our requirements regarding face masks in our schools. The board appreciates all of the information that was sent to us,” Sparlin said Thursday night.
Schools have operated under Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s orders regarding masks. Pritzker said Wednesday that at the end of the month he will lift the requirement for face coverings to be worn in most indoor spaces to slow the spread of COVID-19, but the mandate will stay in place for K-12 schools where students, teachers and staff are clustered together.
The District 308 board has asked the administration to present an updated safety plan during the Feb. 28 board meeting, Sparlin said.
“As you can see from our agenda, we will not be making decisions on our safety plan. This doesn’t mean that changes will not be made in the near future,” Sparlin said Thursday.
Sparlin encouraged the audience to be respectful so they could hold the open comments portion of the meeting and then turn to the district’s other business matters.
“In March of 2020, all of our lives drastically changed. The past 23 months have been difficult and complex for everyone, especially our students,” Sparlin said. “We don’t all have to agree on opinions shared but what is important is that we be respectful of everyone sharing their views.”
The district allowed for an hour of public comments. Speakers were each given three minutes at the podium, and student comments were read aloud.
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After repeated interruptions from the audience, the board called for a recess and walked off the stage. Upon their return, board member Eugene Gatewood reminded parents of the district’s policy.
“The school district expects mutual respect, civility and orderly conduct among all individuals on school property for a school event,” Gatewood said.
Board Vice President LaTonya Simelton called for calm.
“The least amount of disruptions will allow us to hear from as many of you as possible,” Simelton said. “We hope to continue in a manner that is civil and respectful. If we have to recess again, we will adjourn the meeting for the night.”
Parents at the meeting said the mask mandate has prevented their young children from experiencing a normal school day.
“I have a first-grader who never for a single solitary day of her school life has been in a classroom without a mask,” Joshua Muench said.
“This isn’t about protecting others, it’s about control,” parent Nathan Brown said.
“Is it about blind loyalty to a party, union or a corrupt politician named J.B. Pritzker?,” he said.
Students submitted prepared statements that were read aloud at the opening of the meeting.
Board member Lauri Doyle praised the students for speaking up on what they believe is important to them.
“Thank you for speaking up for yourselves and showing what you know. You did a lot of argumentative essay writing,” Doyle said.
Doyle acknowledged it is a difficult time and the only constant during the pandemic has been change. However, the board will review the district’s protocols, she said.
“We do need to take a look at where things are going to go, what will be safe for our community and what will be the burden of removing one measure of safety,” she said.
Doyle was encouraged by a call to work together.
“We need to work together to teach our kids to respect one another’s choices and still be able to be friends even if someone does not make the same choice,” Doyle said.
Some parents chanted “Vote, vote, vote,” when the board tried to move on to other agenda items. The board voted to approve a consent agenda, a few action items including paying the bills and a personnel report before they adjourned.
The audience cheered when parent Joanne Johnson said she was not happy with the board.
“Your (decision) not to vote tonight completely tells us that this is all political. I did not sign my rights over to anybody to determine my child’s medical treatments,” she said.
Associated Press contributed to this story.
Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.