The four recently elected members for the Bend-La Pine Schools Board of Directors were sworn in at the board’s regular meeting on July 13, opposite a large and vocal crowd mostly opposed to mandating children to wear masks and the belief that critical race theory is being taught within the district.
The issues of masks and later CRT were central to the losing campaigns for candidates who competed against new members Marcus LeGrand, Janet Sarai Llerandi and Shirley Olson and incumbent Carrie McPherson-Douglass. Over 100 people attended the meeting, and seven people spoke during public comment opposing either the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-recommended use of masks in schools or CRT, often to the applause of other attendees.
New Superintendent Steve Cook confirmed at the meeting that summer school programs in August will follow CDC protocols requiring students be masked while indoors.
The speakers opposing the mask mandate said its continued use could be detrimental to children’s mental health, that only masking unvaccinated people would be a form of discrimination and that children are the least susceptible population to COVID-19 and its most severe impacts.
“The consideration that some kids would wear masks and that others would not wear masks is really just outrageous, it’s a red alarm of just outright discrimination,” said Joshua Phillips, a naturopath based in Bend. “This is ethically objectionable, there’s no scientific or medical merit in that line of thinking whatsoever, it’s a thin veneer of propaganda and that’s it.”
Several people from the local chapter of Moms for Liberty, a national organization with branches in 24 states, attended. The local chair, Shelly Baker, said the trust has been broken between educators and parents over the alleged promotion of “certain political ideologies.”
I noticed during the campaign that there were two points that your opponents raised pretty frequently, one being making sure that the school’s open, which they are and not teaching critical race theory which we don’t —John Davidson
“Over the last few years and perhaps longer, the line between parental authority and education has been blurred. Moms for Liberty is here to clear that up,” Baker said. “Our responsibility as parents is to be fully informed, involved, and engaged in our kids’ education and environment at school.”
Not all speakers shared the idea and some welcomed the new board members and pushed back against the idea the district promoted CRT or that it was mishandling COVID-19 regulations.
“I noticed during the campaign that there were two points that your opponents raised pretty frequently, one being making sure that the school’s open, which they are and not teaching critical race theory which we don’t,” John Davidson said. “I’d like to congratulate you on addressing these two issues before you’re even sworn in.”
The district hasn’t adopted CRT in its formal curriculum and the board members themselves responded to those who spoke during public comment, giving reason for the decisions to continue using masks and asking for more productive conversation. Amy Tatom, board member for zone 5, shared a letter signed by 28 local medical professionals asking for mask use and said that using masks prevents mass-quarantine events that would keep more kids out of school if an outbreak occurred. Llerandi asked those in the crowd to be willing to have a conversation on the issues.
“My advice to all of you folks who continue to show up in support of your passions is to come in with an open mind and come in with a spirit of engaging rather than telling so we can have honest conversations and we can discuss the actual issues that are at hand,” Llerandi said.
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This article appears in Jul 21-28, 2021.
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Thank you for reporting on the BLPS board meeting. I am a parent of three children whom attend Bend La Pine Schools. I am appalled by fellow parents who are treating our public servants disrespectfully and with such an angry tone. While you may not agree with every board member’s position on educational issues, it is still important to remember that these people are public servants and they are not in paid positions. They were elected in a democratic process and are truly there because they care about education and our children. Since when does politics belong at a school board meeting? Are we not all here for the greater good of our students/children? As a parent, I am not only concerned for my children but for all of the children. I would like to urge parents to actually come together for the greater good of the community during this pandemic and leave the divisive, angry tones out of these meetings. Think about what you are teaching your children and how their attitudes will reflect yours when they go to school.
This virus is constantly changing and we need to do the right thing by our whole community. Based on current statistics wearing masks, washing hands and social distancing are still great practices during school and on buses and is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. They issued a statement this week and it’s based on 23,000 children contracting covid-19 varriant and getting very sick. There are also break through cases of the vaccinated as well. They have advised schools that all children K-12 should be mandated to wear masks at school and on buses.
We need to have consistency this year so our children and teachers can focus on academics. We don’t need to have inconsistencies again as we did last year. I have two children that can be vaccinated and one that can’t but they are in the same school. There are too many logistics to have rules for different grades and ages. I think we all need to keep in mind that it takes at least two years to get through a pandemic and we need to work together, be kind, patient and stop acting so entitled and angry. It’s been a frustrating year for everyone with a lot of loss. Let’s listen to the AAP and mask our children this school year and have consistency which is really what is best for all of our children. It’s an equitable stance to take. Let go of the division and come together for the sake of our children. Let’s keep them healthy!
In regards to CRT. This is not being taught in BLPS’s. So, this is where politics do not belong at these meetings. Slavery and genocide is our history and it’s important for accurate history to be taught. There is nothing inappropriate about teaching accurate history. I want my children to be educated properly.
Following linked article suggests the sudden emergence of howling anti-CRT and anti-mask crowds at school board meetings is partisan-incited, scripted by extremist think tanks, and calculated to win back votes from suburban women in 2022 and2024.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/culture-war-edu…