Some parents and employees of Danville School District 118 voiced their frustration Wednesday night about the lack of a clear policy on wearing masks in schools. Curtis Lewsader says it is time to remove the masks….
{AUDIO: ”By forcing our children to be muzzled, it increases lack of concentration, headaches, nausea throughout the day. Irritability, dizyness and tiredness —
Wednesday was the first day of school at Northeast Elementary Magnet School in Danville, but parent Katie Wilson said she could not answer her son’s question….
{AUDIO: ”My son went to school this morning, and he asked me as he got on the bus ‘Mom, do I have to wear a mask at school today?’ And I’m like – ‘I don’t know buddy. I know you have to wear it on the bus, so when you get there I guess they’ll tell you what you’re suppose to do, where you suppose to do it, and how that will look.’ I’d like to be able to prepare him. I’ll follow the rules. I’ll follow the plan whether I agree or disagree – as long as it doesn’t hurt my kid. But I want to know what the plan is.”}
David Enyeart also addressed the school board last night….
{AUDIO: ”It would seem to me that a meeting of the board should have been called and announced to the public on or before July 14th – the day of Dr. Geddis’ letter, so that a plan could have been discussed and voted on before July 21st. But here we are, July 21st, after school has started – still discussing our plan for this school year.}
Danville High School Principal Tracy Cherry noted COVID has been hard on all of us, adding everyone in the Danville district has done more than they had to….
{AUDIO: ”We may have to endure a little bit with masks to ensure the safety of every single person. Whether it be children or teachers – we have teachers that have health issues. But I’m going to tell you something – we’re going to get through it because we always do! And we are not going to give up. And we are not going to fall short. We are going to do the most for our students.}
Because Northeast started before all of the guidelines are clear, Superintendent Alicia Geddis says District 118 started with all of the mitigation in place. She says as the district can show the success at Northeast – and numbers remain favorable – the district can begin to peel back the mitigation. Dr. Geddis says District 118 has not put out guidance yet because it is still awaiting additional information.
