05/25/2021
Last night, common sense prevailed at the SBISD board of trustees meeting. On the agenda was a point of discussion regarding making masks optional via board vote effective Tuesday, May 25th, raising concerns for many parents who had made the decision in March to send their children back to in-person school with the assurance that masks would be required until the end of the school year. At least ten parents (and one amazing seventh grader from Cornerstone Academy) stood up in front of the board to speak as to why there was no rationale for removing the mask mandate with three days left in the school year. Speakers testified to the anxiety that their children were already feeling with finals looming, end-of-year tests and projects, and how taking away the security that many feel by wearing masks - especially those who are still only partially vaccinated or not yet eligible to be vaccinated - was an unnecessary stressor on both students and parents.
The board unanimously voted 7-0 in favor of keeping the mandatory mask requirement in place for all students until June 1st; indeed a win, but as Dr. Blaine acknowledged during the open discussion amongst the trustees, an issue that shouldn’t have been on the agenda in the first place.
We had some amazing advocates pushing to keep the mask mandate in place through the rest of the school year, and we are grateful for their voices. This is a wonderful demonstration of how your voice can make a difference. Thank you to all who spoke at tonight’s meeting. Please continue to show up and have your voices heard!
