One local mom said she felt betrayed by the last-minute decision to require a mask this school year. One dad said he’s been left in a tough position as a parent after the decision. They were among a group of nearly 100 people that protested outside the Daviess County Public Schools Board of Education on Monday morning, and DCPS Superintendent Matt Robbins talked with the crowd for more than half an hour.
Last Wednesday, a joint announcement was made that universal indoor masking will be required at all Daviess County and Owensboro public schools as well as Owensboro Catholic schools. All three school systems are still scheduled to begin the year in-person on Wednesday.
That sparked a group of concerned parents to make a public stand against the decision.
With a light rain still steadily falling, the group gathered just after 9 a.m. Monday with numerous signs — all relating to wanting masks to be optional — on the lawn across from the DCPS Central Office building.
Kris Dillon, who has two children in DCPS elementary schools, was one of the facilitators of the event. He said their reason for protesting was simple.
“It really comes down to choice,” he said. “Parents who oppose a mask mandate, we don’t have a choice for virtual learning at all. The school district put this on us at the last second, saying if our kids are going to school they’re wearing a mask. I think parents who are for the mask mandate, they would even like to have the choice for virtual.”
Dillon said many parents feel like they’re being “bullied” and that the school board is “supposed to be educating our kids, not being a health facilitator.”
“I’m not saying COVID isn’t real, but they’re not being fair to parents who feel comfortable in their child’s immune system to be able to overcome COVID,” he said. “This all just comes down to choice. We need the choice, not mandates. … If you want to wear masks, that’s fine. I’ve got friends that wear masks, and that’s up to them. I don’t want my kids wearing a mask for seven hours a day in school.”
Dillon said his two young children want to be in the classroom, but as a parent he’s struggling with what to do based on a decision he didn’t make.
“Neither of them want to wear masks, but they both want to go to school, so I’m in a bad position as a parent,” he said. “I want to make this stand and see if we can make change before I have to make a decision.”
Ashley Proctor also helped organize the protest. She has two kids in the Daviess County Middle School age group, but they are both pulled out and are being homeschooled. While her son has been homeschooled previously, it will be the first time for Proctor’s daughter.
“We were excited to start back because she did virtual last year because of the mask mandates,” Proctor said. “We went to meet the teachers, meet the classes, and paid the school fees. Then three days later, boom we have to wear masks. I do feel like we were betrayed.”
Proctor said there are plenty of documented facts and resources that their group would be glad to share “that show that actually wearing a mask does not stop the spread of the virus.”
“So to mandate something that actually in fact does not stop the spread is ridiculous,” she said. “We just want to be heard, it’s all about choice here.”
After a short time, Robbins walked out and spoked with the crowd, interacting with them for more than 30 minutes.
“We’re very pleased to have our parents here today voicing their opinions about our policy regarding universal masking for this upcoming year,” he said after speaking to them. “I’ve spent some good time with them, listening, hearing their comments and feedback. They did a great job today of being peaceful. I think that’s very important that we were able to establish communication and listen to one another, and do that in a very civil way.”
Robbins said they didn’t take the decision to require universal masking lightly and based it off consistent guidance from others.
Noting organizations including the CDC, the FDA, American Academy of Pediatrics, the Green River District Health Department, and the Kentucky Department of Health, Robbins said, “We’re not health experts, and we have to go to the people that are … to give us what is, in essence by the health experts that are designated for such, what is the best policy to protect kids. That’s our number one goal and our number one challenge.”
Robbins said one thing everyone agrees on is that kids need to be in school.
“That wasn’t debated here today … we know that our children need to be in school, and that’s our intention,” he said. “At least we have common ground as it pertains to that.”
Robbins said the virtual option this year is for “medically necessary children, and that would be children whose immune systems are compromised for various sundry of things, diabetics and that nature, and we have children enrolled in that. It’s very small by design.”
Robbins said anyone with comments or concerns can email [email protected].
The masking rule will go through at least Labor Day, at which point the school systems will reassess with hopes of dropping the requirement.
“Hopefully the intent of where we are as a school board and a school system is that we don’t want masks,” Robbins said. “No one wants masks. I don’t like wearing a mask, I’ve not really met any individuals that do. However, when it’s deemed to be necessary for the general welfare and health by all the governing bodies that govern health for our society, we have to listen to that.”
Though Owensboro Times was not able to find anyone in support of universal masking in attendance near Monday’s protest, DCPS officials later noted they had been contacted by individuals in support of the requirement.
