School board members deserve praise for not backing down | Editorial
The mask mandate controversy regarding Brevard Public Schools has gone from the surreal to the sublime.
Thank goodness three school board members — Misty Belford, Cheryl McDougall and Jennifer Jenkins — referred to as "Tin pot thugs" by State Rep. Randy Fine, continue putting the health of Brevard's student population ahead of anything else.
The trio refused to back down to the state's threats of withholding their pay over the mask mandate. The state Department of Education has insisted that parents control the mask decision.
On Tuesday, the Florida Department of Education gave the school board 48 hours to comply or else. They also threatened to withhold funds equal to any federal grant intended to make up the loss in salaries. The state's aim: prevent the federal government from using COVID-19 relief funds to cover board members' salaries.
Those threats to withhold funding are now a reality.
More:State Board of Education notifies Brevard School Board that salaries will be withheld
The bullying and strongarm tactics coming out of Tallahassee are embarrassing. Why have a school board? Why have local elections at all if local issues and local decisions are going to be dictated elsewhere?
Why is this even a thing?
Jenkins' comments get national attention:School Board member Jenkins' comments about threats, harassment grab national attention
If Brevard County residents don't like what the school board or any other elected official is doing then they can vote them out of office next time they are on the ballot. If someone is that incensed that their child has to wear a mask while sitting in a room with 20-30 other children and walking the hallways and interacting with hundreds of others who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19, they should probably start homeschooling or enroll their kid in Florida Virtual School.
The district reported 784 new cases of COVID-19 between Aug. 24 and Aug. 26. The mask mandate went into effect four days later on Aug. 30. The latest numbers from the district, covering Oct. 8 to Oct. 11, report 11 new cases.
More:Brevard School Board and 10 others face consequences from state board for mask mandate
The numbers have gone down regularly since the mandate went into effect. Critics of the mask mandate — including School Board members Matt Susin and Katye Campbell — say the number of cases would have decreased even without the mask mandate. They might be right but why even take the chance? As more people get vaccinated and safety precautions are taken then numbers should go down.
Yes, COVID-19 numbers are falling across the state so we're not arguing a direct cause and effect.
But medical professionals in our county tell us repeatedly that wearing a mask helps stop the spread, so why wouldn't the school board take action, even an imperfect action, to help protect students?
Isn't that a good thing? Isn't that the goal? Critics need to understand that a mask mandate will not last forever.
Schools superintendent Mark Mullins said the district has already prepared a parental opt-out form to be implemented in the event Brevard cases fall below the threshold of 50 weekly cases per 100,000 designated in the mask policy.
Wearing a mask in school isn't killing anyone.
You can't say the same thing about COVID-19.
We hope Belford, McDougall and Jenkins continue to resist the bullies. It's particularly unsettling that in this case the bully is none other than our state government.
Stay strong.
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