Frustrations erupt at Cape school board meeting Feb. 28

Two years’ worth of frustration and anger over masks and the pandemic boiled over Feb. 28 at a special Cape Henlopen school board meeting called to allow members to vote on a mask-optional policy for the district.

The meeting was scheduled after Gov. John Carney stated that day that the mask mandate in schools, on school buses and in child care facilities would expire at 6 p.m., March 1, one month earlier than previously announced.

Superintendent Bob Fulton said a planned March 10 vote on the issue was moved up because time is of the essence, and the community is in a much better place than it was just one month ago.

“In January for Sussex County, in one week there were 4,000 cases, and this past week, 183,” Fulton said.

About 900 cases a week were seen in January for the ZIP codes that feed into the district, Fulton said, and this past week, there were only 26 cases. Due to data trends, Fulton said he recommended the board vote to approve a mask-optional policy.

During discussion, member Jessica Tyndall said members of the audience had emailed her several times.

“Not one of you has asked what my opinion is,” she said. “Have you forgotten I, too, have kids in the district? I have a first-grader. She hasn’t been to school without a mask. I want her to go to school without a mask.”

At this point, parent Rebecca Dean interjected from the audience, “Fight for her.” 

“But I also represent,” Tyndall started, then continued, “Rebecca, you have been so unkind to us. It’s embarrassing to me that you’ve treated us the way you’ve treated us.

“I’m a volunteer,” Tyndall continued. “I represent almost 6,000 children. It doesn’t have anything to do with my children. It has to do with what’s best for the community, and what’s best for the community is to keep kids in school, and that’s what we’ve done safely.”

When schools shut down two years ago, Tyndall said, she advocated for in-person instruction. Some called the board heroes, but the teachers’ union hated the board, Tyndall said, adding that she asked her children’s teachers to be nice to them.

“Have you ever been in that position?” Tyndall asked. “Where someone hates you so much and hates your decision that you can’t take your kids to school? I don’t hate you for being mean to me. You have been terrible to us.”

Not everyone feels ready to go to school maskless, she said.

“On Wednesday, there are going to be people that still send their kids to school with masks, and I just hope to God that no one shames them,” Tyndall said. “Just stick yourselves in our shoes for one second.”

Board member Janet Maull-Martin said she, like everyone else on the board, has a child, grandchild or someone close who attends Cape schools. She said she hoped the community would come together.

“It’s been a long process,” Maull-Martin said. “It’s been a difficult process, but we have earnestly thought about your children and our children and what is best for them. We have gone on the recommendation of our superintendent because he is the one whom we placed in charge to do what is best for our kids.”

Maull-Martin said she appreciated comments from the community, and hoped they also appreciate the position in which the board members found themselves. She said since masks can now be optional, the situation is a win for all children.

“And that’s all that we can ever want, to do what is best for our kids,” Maull-Martin said.

Board member Julie Derrick said the school board was put in a difficult position because of the governor’s mandate, and would have been fined $1,000 per child for violating it.

“I know there’s animosity, but I still have gratitude for parents that advocate for their kids,” Derrick said.

Parents react

During public comment, Rehoboth Elementary PTO representative Paul Webster said he appreciated everyone’s passion for their children but felt insulted, especially after parents were labeled domestic terrorists by national school board officials.

Webster said no one had ever surveyed parents or students about masks. If the union and parents have problems communicating, that’s a big issue, Webster said; he offered to serve as a liaison between them.

Parent Rebecca Dean addressed the board by saying, “Speaking of shaming people, don’t shame me in front of anybody. If you feel that my emails were a little too harsh and bold, and not sugar-coated for your liking, at least respond to them.”

Dean said she emailed all board members that morning regarding [district COVID coordinator] LouAnn Hudson’s authority to deny her child’s request for a medical mask exemption.

“I expect correspondence back from you all,” Dean said. “LouAnn Hudson does not have the right, nor did she ever have the right, to medically deny my kids their mask exemption.

“I don’t care; this is it,” she said as board President Alison Myers and Fulton told her she could not allege a complaint against an employee during the meeting. 

Dean then apologized and asked for a response to her email; Myers said she spent the day preparing for the meeting, and would reply.

Parent Heather Beauchemin said she only ever asked for a choice regarding mask-wearing, and no one had ever given her proof that masks work. 

Beauchemin said she was concerned to hear the district would be fined $1,000 for each mask violation; she said she was concerned the board followed the mandate instead of doing the right thing regarding the laws, their oath of office to protect the Constitution, and the First and Second Amendments.

Immediately after discussion, the board voted unanimously to approve Fulton’s recommendation.

A link to the meeting is available at capehenlopenschools.com.