Board of Education Votes to Mandate Masks With Reopening of Schools Over Objections of Some Parents

July 29, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

Over the objections of a few parents in attendance, the Board of Education Wednesday evening voted a mask mandate with the start of school Monday, August 3.

What the mandate means is that masks must be worn on school buses and in the hallways and common areas in the school buildings. This applies to students as well as school faculty and staff. Masks may be removed in the classroom if students and staff are able to social distance. The Board plans to re-evaluate the mandate periodically.

Jennifer Ware from dwayne page on Vimeo.

The vote was 4 to 1 on each motion (mandatory masks on buses) and (mandatory masks in school hallways and in common areas). Board Chairman Danny Parkerson and members Kate Miller, W.J. (Dub) Evins, III, and Shaun Tubbs voted in favor. Member Jim Beshearse voted no. Members Doug Stephens and Alan Hayes were absent.

“I think we need to make masks available at each school and whatever staff members and children want to wear the masks I think that is great. If they don’t want to wear the masks that is great as well but if we make this mandatory teachers will just be on mask patrol all day trying to police it especially at the elementary schools,” said Board member Beshearse.

The vote came during a special called meeting of the Board following an informal work session in which they discussed the issue and answered questions from concerned parents who attended the meeting.

Ryan Mollinet from dwayne page on Vimeo.

Director of Schools Patrick Cripps said while the move may be unpopular with some, it was the right thing for the board to do under the circumstances with COVID-19 cases still on the rise.

“We know we can’t social distance on the buses and that is one of the hot spots we are concerned about with students riding the buses. One of the ways we think we can help prevent the spread of that is requiring masks on the buses to protect the drivers and students because we know we can’t put one kid per seat on every other seat. The other areas where we are requiring the masks are in the hallways and in the common areas where there will be high foot traffic and it’s less likely you can social distance. In the classrooms there is no way we could expect a student to wear a mask all day long and there will be times when they can remove the masks. For students in PE they should be able to social distance with little problem. With a wide open gym I don’t think kids will have to wear masks and they can go outside most of the time so I don’t see that being an issue,” added Cripps.

Concerns for faculty and staff also entered into this decision according to Director Cripps. ” We are already down bus drivers from this. Some have retired and we are short of bus drivers. There will be bus routes we won’t be able to cover. We have had some teachers to resign just because of concerns with their health and things they may face. But one thing I can say by talking to many people in the community is I think a majority of people wants us to be in school and that is the best place for our kids to be is in school because there is nothing like that social interaction with classmates and teachers and learning hands on. We have to take every precaution we can to protect our students and our faculty and staff”.

Director Cripps is calling on voluntary cooperation from parents and students in adhering to the mask mandate.

“We know this decision has upset some folks and we respect their opinion but we need everybody’s cooperation. If you look at the trajectory the COVID-19 numbers keep rising. We have talked to the medical officials in our county and every one I have talked to has said you need to wear a mask. They are the ones who deal with it on a daily basis. If they are making that recommendation and the Tennessee Department of Health and the Governor are recommending it we feel this is necessary to keep our kids safe,” said Director Cripps.

How will the mask mandate be enforced?

“For those who won’t comply we will try to counsel with those students and parents and try to explain to them how important it is to wear the masks and if they continue to refuse to wear the masks there is always the option of remote learning for them,” said Cripps.

Board members in support of the mandate gave their reasons.

“I work in healthcare and we see these cases come in daily. Unlike the regular flu there is no vaccine for COVID-19 so our best defense against the spread is by personal hygiene, social distancing, and the use of masks. How many of you tell your kids to wash your hands before and after you use the restroom? But if soap and water nor germ-x  kills all bacteria, should we tell our kids to no longer wash their hands? How many parents tell their kids to cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze? But an elbow or shirt sleeve doesn’t  prevent germs when you cover, so should  we tell our kids  not to cover because it is not effective? We do these things because it is better than doing nothing and that is the whole point with this mask mandate is to try to curtail and slow the spread. Even the N95 masks are only about 85% effective but right now that is the best we have. I want to keep the kids in school as long as we can but I think doing nothing is the wrong thing to do and we are are asking for your support,” said Board member Tubbs.

“I read this afternoon that Tennessee is now  among four states as the hottest spots for COVID-19 in the country so its probably not if we go back to on line learning but when and if we don’t do something affirmative to start with it will escalate a lot faster,” said Board member Evins

“We want what’s best for all of the kids and we have two main goals, to educate the kids and keep them safe. We have decided that the best format for this is onsite learning and to do that our responsibility is to take all the precautions we can and we are doing that with temperature checks and pick up and drop off changes and now we have guidance from the Tennessee Department of Health which says masks should be mandatory for these students. When we lay our heads down at night we have to know we have done everything to try and keep these kids safe and to keep them in school. If not we will be going to remote learning sooner rather than later,” said Board member Miller.

Parents speaking out against the mandate gave their viewpoints.

“There is nothing you have said about COVID-19 that I don’t agree with but I think it (wearing masks) should be a choice,” said concerned parent Jennifer Ware

“DeKalb County has an 18% poverty rate and there are children who only get food when they come to school and the only clothes they have are those sent to teachers to clothe these children. So you will be sending them home with mandated masks. Do you think those parents will wash those masks? Do you think that bacteria is going away from where they went to the bathroom and didn’t wash their hands and then they touched and pulled down their masks. It’s not. They will go to the bathroom and then they will touch that mask and sit down and touch their desk and then reach over and touch another desk and here we go. It will spread. I ask you to put more thought into social distancing. That will be your best option over a mask in my personal opinion,” said Ware.

“What about contact sports,” asked Eddie Merriman, another concerned parent.

“We will have to follow TSSAA rules and regulations,” answered Director Cripps.

“So you are telling DeKalb County that it’s okay for 8 to 10  guys to pile up on the line of scrimmage, hot and sweaty in a football game without a mask while mandating that elementary kids wear a mask. We are all parents. We can argue about masks all day long. One is my opinion and one is yours. There is science on both sides. The thing we have in common is we are all parents. What gives you the right to tell me that I have to make my child wear a mask?. If you want your child to wear a mask I am fine with that. But I believe this county feels like we do. We all have a right to raise our children the way we feel is best just like you do and I hope you reconsider this,” said Merriman.

“I am not in favor of a mandated mask,” said concerned parent Jonathon Puckett. “ I am a father of two and I have a son who will start kindergarten this year. I just don’t see a five year old keeping a mask on or doing any kind of social distancing. It’s the best we can do to get him to wash his hands after using the bathroom. My children have not missed one single day of child care due to COVID-19. I don’t know that there has been a child in the county or a day care attendant who has gotten the virus during this time so I am not in favor of masks,” said Puckett.

Concerned parent Ryan Mollinet called the mandate ridiculous and questioned the legality of the board’s decision.

“Have you checked the legalities of what you are doing?

“Yes” said Director Cripps

“ Do you think this is legal” asked Mollinet

“It is” replied Cripps

“I did some research on this and read today that Mt Juliet tried to do the same thing and the school district’s attorney advised them not to saying the school board did not have the legal authority to pass a mask mandate. In order to have that authority there must be a county mandate which we don’t have and a county mandate does not apply to children under 12 years old. I have a six year old girl that will not wear a mask because she is not able to wear one. I have a 14 year old going into high school. He is at the age to make his own decision and he doesn’t want to wear a mask. I think this is ridiculous. You are elected to represent the people of your district and not your personal opinions and I think the overwhelming majority is not in favor of kids wearing masks and a lot of kids won’t,” said Mollinet

July 29, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

An annual prayer for our schools observance will be held again this year but not at a central location as in the past due to COVID-19.

“Back 2 School-Call 2 Prayer” will be Sunday, August 2 starting at 2 p.m. at the school of your choice where a designated pastor will be waiting to lead you in group prayer. Locations include DeKalb County High School, DeKalb Middle School, Northside Elementary School, Smithville Elementary School, and DeKalb West School. The school buildings will not be open. Groups may meet outside the buildings.

Parents, church leaders, educators, and community leaders are invited to attend. Prayers will be offered for the blessing, safety, and learning for the students and faculty for the school year.

July 28, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

The Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce is making application for two Tourism Enhancement grants each in the amount of $75,000 on behalf of the City of Smithville and DeKalb County governments.

Should the grants be approved both the city and county have committed to put up the required 10% match of $7,500.

Chamber Director Suzanne Williams addressed the mayor and aldermen July 13th.

“The grant for the city would be used to purchase a brand new Fiddlers’ Jamboree stage including the backdrop, artwork, lighting, an Americans with Disability (ADA) compliant ramp, etc. The new stage would have a similar look to the one we have now but it would provide everything we need to make it even more beautiful and safer for the 50th anniversary of the Fiddlers’ Jamboree next year,” said Williams.

If the city grant is approved Williams said the $7,500 local match would be repaid by the Fiddlers’ Jamboree Board of Directors. The Smithville aldermen unanimously voted in support of the grant.

Williams addressed the DeKalb County Commission Monday night, July 27.

“ This grant would be for the community theater at the county complex to install programmable lights, enhanced sound, and an environmental screen to where we don’t have to build all the sets and with the touch of a button we could have any backdrop we want,” she said.

Originally, Williams said she thought the Chamber could only apply for one $75,000 grant which she intended to divide $50,000 for the Jamboree stage and $25,000 for the community theater project.

County Mayor Tim Stribling said $2,500 had already been budgeted for the $25,000 grant match but the remaining $5,000 could be appropriated from other county complex charges in the budget to apply for the $75,000 grant.

The county commission voted 11-3 to commit up to $7,500 total for the grant match. Commissioners voting in favor were Julie Young, Sabrina Farler, Myron Rhody, Jenny Trapp, Janice Fish Stewart, Dr. Scott Little, Jerry Adcock, Anita Puckett, Matt Adcock, Jeff Barnes, and Beth Pafford. Those voting no were Dennis Slager, Bobby Johnson, and Bruce Malone.

Tourism Enhancement Grants are designed for cities and counties seeking to invest in local tourism infrastructure assets. Eligible projects include stages, signage, enhancement to attractions or venues and other resources that target expanding local tourism.

“Tourism is an important factor for economic development in Tennessee. This program provides valuable opportunities for growth in our important rural areas,” said Commissioner Mark Ezell, Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. “Our partnership with TNCED allows us to invest in development resulting in increased visitation and more funds coming back into the community.”

The Tourism Enhancement Grant program is funded through the Rural Economic Opportunity Act, which is designed to improve the economic indicators in rural communities across Tennessee.

Meanwhile, Williams has also applied for a $10,000 Tennessee Arts Commission Grant on behalf of the city to fund a large mural project for downtown Smithville on the highly visible west wall of the Savvy Scrubs building. The local match is $2,000, half of which will be funded by the city if the grant is approved. Williams said she would raise funds for the rest of the grant match.

Williams said the county is also getting a $3,500 Telework Grant to outfit the conference room in the county complex for Zoom type meeting/training/class space .

Meanwhile the bidding process will soon begin for equipment at the Alexandria Playground funded through a Three Star grant program.

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