SCHAUMBURG (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The masks-in-schools issue is a hot one, and Thursday night was front and center as the Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 board met and ultimately decided to recommend, but not require that students wear masks in schools when classes resume next month.
District 211 School Board President Anna Klimkowicz had to repeatedly ask people in the audience to stop shouting out or cheering as others gave their opinions about whether masks should be worn in schools in the fall. It happened once as Dr. Joanna Pozdal argued against mask-wearing.
"Students should not wear a mask at school at all," Dr. Pozdal said.
The crowd then cheered.
"Again, I’m going to ask. Please. Please refrain," Klimkowicz said.
Dr. Pozdal was the first anti-mask advocate to speak. She said she does not believe the COVID infection is as severe as it’s made out to be on TV, radio, and social media, despite more than 600,000 American deaths.
"Kids wearing masks are at risk for anxieties and other chronic diseases so, that’s my point. No masks for kids, as a physician," she said.
The crowd cheered again, leading to Klimkowicz having to again say, "I’d really like to be able to make sure we hear everyone. Please refrain."
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Samantha Nelson pointed to cases of Mississippi children now in ICUs with the Delta variant.
"I’m asking you to keep the masks on so we can protect our families," she said.
Meanwhile, Sarah Fallon urged people to come together.
"It doesn’t feel like we’re neighbors in here right now. The whooping and yelling and cheering and jeering that I’m hearing as people speak. This doesn’t feel neighborly," she said.
In the end, the District 211 board decided leave the decision up to parents and students. The district will recommend, but not require mask-wearing in schools.
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