Williamson County, Tennessee: Parents attack council that reinstated mask mandate in elementary schools



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The Williamson County Board of Education, just south of Nashville, approved the requirement for masks for elementary students, staff and visitors inside all buildings and on buses starting Thursday and until September 21, according to information from the school district.

During the special council session, parents on both sides of the issue shared their views with the council.

One relative, who identified himself as Daniel Jordan, a former Marine, told the board: “Actions have consequences. If you vote for it, we’ll come for you, in a non-violent way. … In the past you tended to sheep, now prepare to face lions. “

Jennifer King, parent and pediatric intensive care physician, said: “As a pediatric intensive care physician, we are seeing more previously healthy younger children admitted with respiratory failure and acute respiratory distress syndrome than we do. do not have any in previous strains, as cases in children are ongoing. this trend will only get worse if we don’t act now. “

During the meeting, the crowd cheered, clapped and booed, and people holding signs were asked at one point to clear the hall.

Video obtained by CNN from outside the meeting also showed crowds heckling masked individuals leaving the meeting, with a man saying, “We know who you are. You can leave freely, but we will find you.” A sergeant from the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office could be seen pleading with the crowd to be peaceful.

The board issued a statement on this, saying, “Our parents are passionate about educating their children, and this is one of the reasons our district has been successful over the years. there is no excuse for incivility.

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“We serve over 40,000 students and employ over 5,000 staff. Our families and staff represent a wide variety of thoughts and beliefs, and it is important in our District that all families and staff have the opportunity to be represented and respected. We will continue to work to ensure that all voices are heard and that all families, staff and community members feel safe sharing their views, ”added the district.

The temporary mask warrant will allow teachers who are at least six feet from students to remove their masks, the district said. The measure applies specifically to elementary schools, and masks are strongly encouraged for middle and high school students.

In late July, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that localities encourage all teachers, staff, students and visitors to schools to wear masks indoors, regardless of their immunization status, due to the rapid spread of the Delta variant of the coronavirus.

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