Concerned Parents, Children and Others Speak Out Against Face Masks in Franklin County Schools
Nearly 50 In Attendance
Democrat Chairman Did Not Address The Mask Issue
Commentary by John Edwards
At-Large Member and Former GOP Chairman
Nearly 50 In Attendance
Democrat Chairman Did Not Address The Mask Issue
Commentary by John Edwards
At-Large Member and Former GOP Chairman
Feb. 14, 2022, LOUISBURG, NC -- The Franklin County School Board received an overwhelming response tonight from nearly 50 parents, children and others who voiced their opposition to the face mask mandate that the Board has implemented since last year when the schools reopened for classes.
A resolution by the Franklin County Republican Party which allows parents to decide if their students should wear masks or not, was sent by email to every school board member Feb. 13. In addition, Republican state House Rep. Matthew Winslow, also sent a letter to the School Board and the superintendent about wearing masks in schools, which he says should now be a choice and not a mandate.
Those who spoke against the mask mandate included concerns about why masks are still being worn, when Johnston and several other counties no longer force students to wear masks.
Long-time vocal opponent of masks, Louisburg resident Connie Jo Hutchinson, who has a child in school (pictured above holding the sign Stop The Abuse!) said, "Your continuous chorus of 'following the science' needs to end now. You aren’t following all the science or even the correct science. The Democrats on this Board follow the science they like and ignore the harm being done to our children. Maybe if you had kids in school right now you would have an inkling of how hard it’s been. But none of you do except one. And she along with another have voted to protect the whole child, to make masks optional."
That was greeted with a thunderous applause by the audience.
Some children who spoke complained that having to wear masks makes it difficult for them to understand what the teachers are saying, as well as only having less than 15 minutes to eat lunch. They begged the School Board to end wearing masks at tonight's meeting.
At least one person complained that students' test scores have dropped due to poor communication with masks on in the classrooms.
Parents who spoke were emotional at times, and were disgusted with the direction of the School Board on the forced mask mandate.
School Board candidate Republican Joe Balazsi told the Board that he has filed suit against the Democratic members and superintendent of their surety bond for making students wear masks. He faces Democrat incumbent Paige Sayles for the District 7 at-large seat.
Republican School Board member Meghan Jordan, and Independent Debra Brodie, said that a vote to end the mask mandate should be tonight and not on Feb. 28. Jordan questioned Superintendent Dr. Rhonda Schuler on why there is a delay.
Schuler responded that she is following recommendations that in January there were spikes in Covid, up to 28 percent, but she thinks it will be 14 percent in two weeks.
Jordan asked, incredulously, how does the superintendent know that it will be 14 percent. Schuler danced around that question, and some in the audience blasted and booed her.
The Board voted 5-2 to continue to wear masks. All five were Democrats.
During the public comments, the county's Democratic Party chairman made no mention of the mask mandate, but instead focused on school board redistricting. In fact, state Democratic Party Chairwoman Bobbie Richardson spoke only about redistricting too.
The Democrat Party leaders left before all the public comments ended.
Several anti-mask participants were asked to leave by sheriff's deputies after they interrupted the Board.
Watch the raw video (Franklin County News Online):
https://www.facebook.com/FranklinCoNewsOnline/videos/271501461769639
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The Franklin County Republican Party encourages everyone to register as a Republican, and be active whether it's attending our monthly meetings, running for office, volunteering at the polls, just to name a few.
You can subscribe to our emails by contacting FranklinNCGOP@aol.com.
Website: www.FranklinNCGOP.com
A resolution by the Franklin County Republican Party which allows parents to decide if their students should wear masks or not, was sent by email to every school board member Feb. 13. In addition, Republican state House Rep. Matthew Winslow, also sent a letter to the School Board and the superintendent about wearing masks in schools, which he says should now be a choice and not a mandate.
Those who spoke against the mask mandate included concerns about why masks are still being worn, when Johnston and several other counties no longer force students to wear masks.
Long-time vocal opponent of masks, Louisburg resident Connie Jo Hutchinson, who has a child in school (pictured above holding the sign Stop The Abuse!) said, "Your continuous chorus of 'following the science' needs to end now. You aren’t following all the science or even the correct science. The Democrats on this Board follow the science they like and ignore the harm being done to our children. Maybe if you had kids in school right now you would have an inkling of how hard it’s been. But none of you do except one. And she along with another have voted to protect the whole child, to make masks optional."
That was greeted with a thunderous applause by the audience.
Some children who spoke complained that having to wear masks makes it difficult for them to understand what the teachers are saying, as well as only having less than 15 minutes to eat lunch. They begged the School Board to end wearing masks at tonight's meeting.
At least one person complained that students' test scores have dropped due to poor communication with masks on in the classrooms.
Parents who spoke were emotional at times, and were disgusted with the direction of the School Board on the forced mask mandate.
School Board candidate Republican Joe Balazsi told the Board that he has filed suit against the Democratic members and superintendent of their surety bond for making students wear masks. He faces Democrat incumbent Paige Sayles for the District 7 at-large seat.
Republican School Board member Meghan Jordan, and Independent Debra Brodie, said that a vote to end the mask mandate should be tonight and not on Feb. 28. Jordan questioned Superintendent Dr. Rhonda Schuler on why there is a delay.
Schuler responded that she is following recommendations that in January there were spikes in Covid, up to 28 percent, but she thinks it will be 14 percent in two weeks.
Jordan asked, incredulously, how does the superintendent know that it will be 14 percent. Schuler danced around that question, and some in the audience blasted and booed her.
The Board voted 5-2 to continue to wear masks. All five were Democrats.
During the public comments, the county's Democratic Party chairman made no mention of the mask mandate, but instead focused on school board redistricting. In fact, state Democratic Party Chairwoman Bobbie Richardson spoke only about redistricting too.
The Democrat Party leaders left before all the public comments ended.
Several anti-mask participants were asked to leave by sheriff's deputies after they interrupted the Board.
Watch the raw video (Franklin County News Online):
https://www.facebook.com/FranklinCoNewsOnline/videos/271501461769639
----------------------
The Franklin County Republican Party encourages everyone to register as a Republican, and be active whether it's attending our monthly meetings, running for office, volunteering at the polls, just to name a few.
You can subscribe to our emails by contacting FranklinNCGOP@aol.com.
Website: www.FranklinNCGOP.com