More than 50 parents and children attended the South-Western City Schools Board of Education meeting on Aug. 23 to protest the recent decision to require students in pre-kindergarten to sixth grade to wear facial coverings at the start of the 2021-22 school year. Attendees said they felt the district was “giving into fear” from the media and public health officials over COVID-19 data and wanted their children to have the option to wear a mask if they so choose. Shown here, protesters hold up signs after the meeting where the board granted Superintendent Dr. Bill Wise discretion on when to lift the mask requirement for preschool, elementary, and intermediate school students.
