Cheshire, CT (WFSB) – A group of parents shouting for the governor to “expose our children” disrupted a school meeting in Cheshire.
Governor Ned Lamont joined teachers and public health officials on Wednesday to discuss the new school year.
The meeting was meant to unify a plan to get the students back in the classroom, but it ended abruptly after parents, who do not want their children to wear masks, expressed their opinion.
At the beginning of the meeting, it seemed the parents came to listen, but then the commotion started as some started shouting.
When it reached the part of the meeting where people could ask questions, things got out of hand.
Parents advocating for children to remain without masks, disrupted a school meeting in Cheshire on Wednesday.
At one point, the superintendent of Cheshire tried to calm things down.
“It’s a reflection of how we can’t communicate as citizens,” Superintendent Jeff Solan said.
School meeting between officials ends abruptly as parents shout for children to be exposed
it did not work. Then, more parents started yelling at the governor and the group of teachers.
The meeting ended about 30 minutes ago.
Gov. Lamont joined with teachers and public health officials to talk about the upcoming school year.
Then some parents chased Lamont out of school calling him a criminal and accusing him of sending the kids to concentration camps.
“These bullying tactics will not change what we all know is true and agreed upon by both the scientific and academic communities,” Lamont said after the meeting. “Masks work and they help keep our communities safe, especially young children who are not yet eligible for vaccination.”
Last week, Lamont announced that masks would be mandatory in schools by September 30 due to an increase in COVID cases and the delta version.
Governor Ned Lamont joined teachers and public health officials on Wednesday to discuss the new school year.
“I see what’s happening in Georgia. I see what’s happening in Florida. I see what’s happening in Texas. I’ve seen a lot of kids being sent home And being quarantined, they’re not getting a chance to be in the classroom. I’m here to hear how we can keep our schools and kids open in the best possible way in the classroom,” Lamont said.
On Wednesday, parents expressed their views.
Parent Amy Borden, who has four children at Highland Elementary School in Cheshire, said, “Trying to keep children healthy by wearing masks all day is out of their scope.” “We are simply trying to reestablish the right to choose what is best for our children and to restore parental rights.”
Susan Zabohonsky’s group, “Parents’ Choice,” was at the roundtable in Cheshire on Wednesday to protest the statewide school mask mandate.
“We believe that it should be left to the parents to make children wear masks. We believe that every health decision should be left to the parents,” Zabohonsky said.
Children 11 years and younger cannot be vaccinated.
“Masks are a very valuable stopgap as we wait for vaccines, especially for young children,” said pulmonary and critical care physician Dr. Luke Davis.
A meeting to unify plans to get students back in the classroom ended abruptly when parents who didn’t want their children to wear masks showed up to express their opinion.
Davis was among several medical professionals in Fairfield who sent a letter to the state board of education weeks ago urging schools to adopt a masked mandate.
Physicians said that without masks, there could be a higher risk of transmission in classrooms, as well as infection among children, and a further risk of breakthrough infection among vaccinated teachers and staff.
Davis said, “When you’re talking about a classroom setting, when you have kids crowded together and schools with teachers and other staff, that’s a setting where there’s more risk. “
Zabohonsky said he would continue to push boards of education to let parents decide if school masks are mandatory.
“Let’s put these decisions in the hands of the parents for the parents,” she reasoned.
Several state politicians responded to the disrupted meeting.
A meeting to unify plans to get students back in the classroom ended abruptly when parents who didn’t want their children to wear masks showed up to express their opinion.
“You all should know that the teachers are ready. These are rock solid professionals,” said Katie Dias, president of the Connecticut Education Association, the state’s largest teachers’ union.
However, what teachers may not be prepared for is getting infected with COVID, which is why many teachers are endorsing masks in schools, Dias said.
Connecticut Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker said, “We know that families have their own concerns, and we’re basically saying please work with your district, keep an open line of communication, learn all the things they need to know.” what they are doing.”
Later Wednesday, Connecticut Democrats issued a statement:
Connecticut Republicans like to say they have outgrown the extremism of the Trump era. But across the state, there are masked protests in Cheshire like today. Disagreements on policy are part of our process. But this behaviour, and similar protests at recent Board of Education meetings in Bristol and Fairfield, have no place in political discourse. Local officials are concerned about their safety. Today, I’m calling on the president of Connecticut Republicans to exercise his leadership and condemn this disruptive and hostile behavior.
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