Thread by @brinleyhineman

I’m at the Williamson County Schools special called meeting tonight where board members will discuss coronavirus safety protocols. A group of anti-mask mandate protesters are out ahead of the meeting. Follow along here for @Tennessean coverage.

Doors open at 5:30, and the line to get in is already wrapped around the building. Lots of signs, very few masks.

Anti-mask mandate folks drastically outweigh pro-mask people. There are hundreds of people here. The meeting starts at 6 but doors open at 5:30. Meeting comment will be capped at 30 minutes, so only 30 people can speak for one minute each.

I spoke with Dr. Sarah Essary, an internal medicine physician. She said for health care workers who have been on the line for 18 months in full PPE, a mask is a small ask for children until they have the opportunity to be fully vaccinated.

Basing decisions on vaccination rates isn’t an accurate metric since mostly adults are eligible and not children, she said.

On the other side of things, I heard from Spring Hill mom Tessa Certa who is anti-mask mandate. For her two sons, she said it was isolating to wear a mask. She was initially OK with her kids wearing a mask at the beginning of the pandemic but not anymore.

People are very slowly trickling into the room one by one. A deputy is at the door allowing them in one at a time after they sign up to speak. Nearly half the seats are already filled.

The floodgates have opened.

Signs range from anti-mask to anti everything: contact tracing, quarantining, social distancing etc.

Very quickly, we are at standing room only.

My service is wonky but I am doing my best to get tweets out ASAP. Meeting has started.

Public comments are about to begin. Only 30 minutes are set aside for this.

An ICU health care worker is addressing the board who said she’s feeling helpless and exhausted.

“Some of these babies can’t be vaccinated. Imagine what’s going to happen in these next few weeks.”

If you’re trying to tune in, livestream isn’t working. WCS says they’re working on it but it’s on WCTV.

We’re only 10 minutes into this meeting and the board chair has had to call folks to order several times for interruptions.

Board members Angela Durham and Eric Welch are absent.

Michael Miller is speaking now to the board calling upon them to reinstate mask mandate. He works for a kidney dialysis company and said covid has “ravaged” that community.

People are being intense with their shouts, boos and heckling pro-mask mandate speakers.

Michelle Sole is speaking now. Her son has cerebral palsy. She said they chose Williamson County to raise their family specifically for the schools.

“Your reputation is on the line. You can make it right by protecting our high risk and unvaccinated children.”

David Grimmet is speaking now. He’s an attorney and said children have a right to education. He says parents should be allowed to choose what’s best for their kids.

“I should be given the choice.” The room erupts in cheers and shouts of support.

Chelsey Gilbert is speaking with her daughter beside her and brought a box of masks to the meeting to say they can’t keep people from getting sick.
She claims that wearing masks can get people sick. She calls on the board to tests the masks to see what’s on them.

Angela Z., a nurse practitioner, is speaking now and called the virus “the pandemic of the unvaccinated.” People booed her.

Burt Maxwell, a doctor in Nashville, said he’s afraid of his kid.

“The facts are clear: kids are getting sick. It’s happening now. … Kids just aren’t victims. They’re vectors for transmission.”

He says even if you don’t agree with him, it’s imperative to protect kids.

Aima Ahonkai, an infectious disease doctor an Vanderbilt, says the delta variant is as infectious as the chicken pox. The most vulnerable people are unvaccinated, and that means kids who aren’t eligible. She said 10x more adults, 3x more kids have been admitted for covid at Vandy

Maya Neely, a pediatrician, says statistics are staggering.

“We are seeing children in hospitals, some needing ventilator support. These numbers are difficult to hear but we can’t turn away from them.”

She says the only enemy is the coronavirus.

Jennifer King, a pediatric intensive care doctor, is a mom of two kids at WCS. She says the trend is only going to worsen if we don’t act now.

“I implore you to please follow the evidence and implement universal masking.”

A parent shouts “I wouldn’t take my child to a doctor these days if it would save my life.” Now the board chair is once again scolding interrupters.

Board chair Nancy Garrett has asked for people to be kind and polite and not interrupt. I’ve lost count of interruptions. Prob 30 or more.

Parent Nick Scheiber is waving his finger at the board and called them a disgrace, and called out board member Brad Fiscus specifically.

“We are pissed off!” He shouts, while the room erupts in cheers.

Now Nancy Garrett says no personal attacks on board members will be tolerated.

Justin Pride says his four kids are “devastated.” He says there’s no scientific evidence that masks work against viruses.

“They are not saving our kids.”

He calls mandates illegal.

People are wildly cheering. Louder than they have so far.

Mary Jane Brown, an ER doctor, says her kids graduated from WCS. Her three grandkids are sick with covid now.

“There is a lot of tension and a lot of fear in this room. … I will leave you with one message: love.”

Tiffany Greer said they moved here when her daughter underwent chemotherapy for stage IV cancer.
She asks the board to allow parents to make the decision for their kids.

A door to outside was just opened by a deputy and chanting filled the room. I can’t hear when the door is closed, but it seems that “no more mask” chants are ongoing outside.

Elizabeth Story said she’s here “to talk about the law, the whole law and nothing but the law.”

She doesn’t think local school boards have the authority to issue mandates. She said she’ll sue if they issue a mandate. Someone shouts “hell yeah!”

A neurologist says masks “go too far.” She said masks make it difficult for kids who have anxiety or wear glasses.

“There will always be one virus or another.”

Lee Baker calls herself a “California refugee” and “gave it all up for freedom” by coming to Tennessee.

She said her kids are “vaccine injured” and had seizures after they were vaccinated. She’d never put them in a mask “because the brain needs oxygen to grow.”

“The real clown show is that you guys think you can actually mandate this,” she tells the board. She brought a Bible, constitution, bill of rights that she passed to Brad Fiscus. She says they guarantee her freedom.

The crowd loses it with cheers and whoops in support.

Thomas Mitchell says his kid died from a medical condition.

“I understand loss and that you can’t control everything that’s out there.”

He calls on the board to empower parents to make personal decisions for their own children.

“You do you, boo” one dad says, and calls this “satanic BS” and threatened to come for the board “in a non-violent way.”

“In the past you’ve dealt with sheep, now be prepared to deal with lions. … you have awakened the army, and the Holy Spirit is coming with us.”

Doc Holliday, an eye doctor, says that the board’s authority comes from the legislature but not Gov. Bill Lee. Says they don’t have the authority to issue any mandate.

He calls on parents to file a class action lawsuit if they pass a mandate.

Jonathan Wells said he’s got three kids in WCS.

“Policy isn’t science. But science will put spotlight on bad policy. … the science’s not settled.”

He compared masks to “a dirty napkin.”

.@ClayTravis is speaking. He’s got two kids in WCS.

“You all should be ashamed of the choices you’re about to make,” he said to the board. He says masks don’t work and called them “cosmetic theater.”

“Refuse! Refuse” he shouts. Board chair tells him his time is up.

Public comments are over. We’re taking a five minute break.

Taking this as a moment to say that this is all happening in real time — I don’t have access to speaker list, so spellings may be incorrect. There are also a few speakers whose names I didn’t catch.

Board chair Nancy Garrett has banged the heck out of her gavel and made repeated reminders on decorum. But people haven’t care and continued to shout over speakers, cheer and boo. She says during the meeting, no interruptions will be tolerated. Her scolding hasn’t worked so far.

Alright, y’all. That was a short five minute break. We’re back in action.

Superintendent Golden is addressing the crowd. Says the board and schools won’t solve covid.

“What we can do is mitigate. We did that last year.”

Board chair Nancy Garrett calls someone out for “making hand gestures at the board.”

Now she says people may be removed. This is probably her 10th warning, at least.

“You agreed you would not be disruptive,” she says.

Golden says they “strongly encourage” masks based on staff’s review of latest CDC guidelines.

“You all know conditions have changed.”

The legal advice received from school attys: the board can require masks.

Golden says he recommends a mask requirement for elementary schools kids inside all buildings and busses effective Thursday.

Anti-mask mandate folks are displeased. One person calls Golden a coward.

At elementary level, nurses report 25 positive cases among elementary students since school started. School started on friday — three school days ago.

Golden says the state no longer gives schools the option to go remote and it count as a school day. If you reach a point where schools go remote, it will count as an “inclement weather day.” They only get 10 per year.

Golden reiterates staff recommendation of masks in elementary schools. People are livid and shouting.

One person says “they’re being paid,” referring to the school board.

Control has been lost at this meeting. A deputy has escorted someone out. Everyone screaming and dozens are leaving now chanting.

I’m trying to upload a video now. Internet is slow. Dozens have left after one man was escorted out. One woman left yelling that she’d see the board in court.

Video won’t upload. A motion has been made to implement staff recommendation of masks in elementary schools.

Board member Brad Fiscus says it’s in the best interest to require masks.

“You should expect a lawsuit!” A man yells at Fiscus.

Member Dan Cash said he feels torn and doesn’t even know where to go or start with this conversation.

“I thought we had a plan,” he said about making school normal and making masks optional.

Cash says that the board didn’t get any head’s up about WCS’ recommendation about masks. They found out at 4:19 pm today, he says.

He says he reached out multiple ways to Golden. “Why can’t we give this a chance to work?” He asks about not implementing a mask mandate.

“Why can’t we work for all the people rather than just put that rag on your face,” school board member Dan Cash says.

People are shouting again and Nancy Garrett is trying to gain control of the room.

Superintendent Golden says Cash’s question is reasonable and it’s one they’ve considered in recent days.

“What we have seen is that quick increase. We don’t know what the future holds.”

School board member Dan Cash moves to make an amendment to the motion to give it three more weeks before board makes a mask decision. He’s informed it’s not a proper amendment and can’t make it.

“I’m asking that we give this a chance and see what the data is from our schools,” Cash says.

He calls on the board to wait “and see how these numbers develop.” He’d like to defer the motion for three actions. Board member Candy Emerson seconds the motion.

Board member Sheila Cleveland says she’s “very much pro-choice, there is no question about it.” She says she likes how middle and high school students have the choice.

She says elementary kids don’t have a choice. They can’t get vaxxed. They can’t go online.

“I think about the whole picture … but when you think about the elementary kids, there are no choices for them,” she says referring to inability to get vaccinated. “The responsibility of keeping all the kids safe in elementary is very important to me.”

Board member Jennifer Aprea says “for the record, I absolutely hate masks.” But she wears them anyway. She said she hates conflict.

“It makes me really sad to see where we are as a community right now.” She said people on both sides want what’s best for her kids.

She said the health and safety of students isn’t a political issue.

“We have seen what happens when we’ve given the choice,” she said. What happens? Kids get sick with covid.

Board member Aprea says a Nolensville church camp has sparked a coronavirus cluster in the small town.

A WCS school nurse is speaking now. She says they were anticipating a healthy year up until a few weeks ago before cases began to rise. When school started only last week, reports of positive cases began to roll in.

Last year they only heard of one case per week. But now they’ve heard of multiple cases each day. On Monday, they had “a significant increase” or positive cases they’re trying to track and notify families of exposed students.

“How do we help people help themselves?” She asked.

Anti-mask mandate people are heckling her.

More people are walking out now with claims that their kids will not wear masks, regardless of mandate.

Board member Aprea makes a motion to require masks for kids 12 and younger.

She says that she’s a proponent of universal masking. She said she’s heard from parents of high-risk kids who are afraid to speak out.

“This is intimidating y’all. I didn’t sign up for this when I ran for the school board.”

Aprea is clearly overwhelmed as she speaks and the crowd shouts and yells at her.

Board chair Nancy Garrett is just letting it happen.

A woman is laying into Aprea. She says her kid is special needs and must see the mouths of people speaking. People cheer her on.

Aprea says she “needs to stay in her lane and listen to medical experts.” People are yelling at her.

Board member Dan Cash is speaking again. And he says “there are two sides to this whole issue here.”

He said he’s been weighing pros and cons.

I’ve covered meetings in three counties: Rutherford, Davidson and Williamson. I have never seen such outbursts in any meeting as I have tonight. It’s wild. Only one person has been removed, but dozens have left volunterily. So much for decorum rules.

Board member Dan Cash says people “are being pushed into a corner to get vaccinated.”

He says vaccines “aren’t the total answer” and that kids will get sick.

Voluntarily* typos are inevitable when you’re typing fast 🥲

Board member Eliot Mitchell says 12-20 year olds are seeing a rise in vaccinations. Golden says total vaccinations have grown faster in that age category that all age categories as a whole.

Board member Jay Galbreath asks about opt-out provisions for masks. He says he plans to make an amendment for mask exemptions.

Galbreath asks about end date recommendation is mask mandate is passed. Golden says he doesn’t have a particular end date and that will be based upon growth in cases. “As soon” as the need ended, they’d remove the masks.

WCS nurse says they’re tracking hospitalizations and internal cases daily.

Cases today equal that of cases in November.

Talking exemptions: if there’s a requirement, they’ll honor last year’s mask exemption forms.

Galbreath asks if kids are vaccinated, can they be exempt from wearing masks.

WCS nurse says that if you’re vaccinated, you still have the risk of getting sick with covid.

WCS nurse references the CDC recommendations and the room groans.

Superintendent Golden says they have a work session in two days and had originally planned to bring up their recommendations of masks then before the special session was called.

If masks are mandated, Galbreath wants the requirement to end Sept 20, when the board will meet.

Board member Sheila Cleveland asks if elementary teachers who are vaccinated have to wear masks. She says it’s important for students to see their mouths while they teach. Suggests while they’re up teaching maybe they don’t mask but mask up when they’re near students.

Cleveland says they have to consider state and local numbers but should focus on school numbers specifically.

Board member KC Haugh says it’s unfathomable to be in this situation again.

He thanks parents for being “passionate” about their kids. He says he’s received hundreds of emails and feedback.

Haugh says we don’t send kids to school when they’re sick. And this is in that line of thinking “to make sure our neighbors and kids are healthy.”

People shout “then tell them to stay home.”

Haugh says it’s important for kids to stay in school and wearing masks can help them.

“It’s not perfect,” he says. “This is mitigation.”

Haugh calls on folks to be kind and empathetic.

Haugh turns the criticism of masks as “cloth napkins” around and says that line of thinking implies that medical grade PPE works.

Board member Galbreath wants to keep masks optional to keep WCS from lawsuits. The room cheers.

A glimpse from outside when a deputy opened a door: folks are chanting “don’t comply.”

Amendment to motion being proposed: All teachers safely distanced of six feet can remove masks; grandfather in exemptions from last year; allow staff and students to seek exemption from wearing masks.

Superintendent Golden said this will increase burden but “it’s worth that effort.”

Board chair Nancy Garrett said last year people laughed and joked about fraudulent exemptions. She said there have been instances of parents saying how easy exemptions were to get.

Golden said there is the concern about bad-faith requests for exemptions but they’re operating under the assumption that people are requesting in good faith. Of the 1500 exemption last year, it was a mix of religious and medical exemptions.

Golden said it’s not appropriate it ask people’s questions about their reasons seeking exemptions.

Golden said maybe some people aren’t telling the truth when seeking exemptions, but he believes some are, and they deserve to have their exemptions honored.

Board member Brad Fiscus wants to amend teacher distancing. His amendment is that a teacher must wear a mask or face shield when teaching in front of a classroom. Board member Aprea seconds Fiscus’ motion.

Galbreath calls Fiscus’ amendment an additional restriction.

Board member Candy Emerson says she’s frustrated “to pieces.” As a former kindergarten teacher, she said she couldn’t teach if she had to distance and think through her actions related to masking. She said when she was a teacher, she was very touchy with students.

Board member Candy Emerson says “mandating this is sinful.”

“We’ve lost all sensibility.” The crowd cheers in agreement.

Emerson chastises fellow board member Brad Fiscus: “I think we are getting into areas, and Brad you have just done it, no business getting into.”

Emerson says teachers will never put kids in harm’s way or compromise their education.

“Please don’t do this,” she begs her fellow board members.

Board member Brad Fiscus fires back: “I was also a teacher.”

“The virus doesn’t care” about the intentions of teachers, he says.

Board member Candy Emerson snaps back: “you were not trained to work in a lower elementary school.”

Brad Fiscus was a biology teacher. Candy Emerson taught both kindergarten and first grade.

Now discussing amending the amendment to allow face shields OR masks for teachers.

Board member Candy Emerson doesn’t want to mandate six foot distance for mask wearing. She thinks teachers can be beside students and “feel comfortable.”

“When you’re in a classroom, it’s got to be intimate,” Emerson says.

Board member Brad Fiscus says he was “rudely interrupted” when the room laughed when he said his daughter, who’s about to start college, is afraid of being at school where folks are unvaccinated.

Someone shouts back “we’re not making fun of your daughter. We’re making fun of your wife!” Talking about Dr. Michelle Fiscus. google.com/amp/s/amp.tenn…

(So much for kindness and empathy)

Board votes 7-3 for amendment for mask exemptions being grandfathered in, etc

Board member Eliot Mitchell calls the meeting and discussion “painful to say the least” but he feels like the board “has demonstrated that we come at these things with some sincerity and genuine curiosity.”

He praises fellow board members for their deliberation, questions and guidance.

Board member Jay Galbreath says public is getting a peek at the “sausage making.”

The room is way emptier than it was three hours ago. Only half the seats are taken now, if that.

Now board member KC Haugh is raising concern over the effectiveness of face shields being substituted for masks.

The amendment being discussed now would allow teachers to wear face shields instead of masks.

Oh, and students would be allowed to wear a face shield instead of a mask, too. There’s so much going on that the school board secretary can’t even keep up with proposals.

Staff doesn’t recommend approving the amendment to allow face shields to be subbed as a mask.

The amendment to allow face shields fails 7-3.

Board member Jay Galbreath says last night Franklin Special School District didn’t implement a mask mandate. Many in the room clap in support.

He’s questioning how good a school mandate is if there isn’t one anywhere else.

Board members Jay Galbreath says that the board is failing the emotional development of children.

“We’re falling prey to the public health perspective as our elementary schools as the place where the single greatest number of people are gathering on a daily basis.”

He’s reframing the mask debate as posing public schools as a health risk.

“I see what this is doing to our kids. … five year olds need to see faces.”

Member Galbreath says he won’t support a mask requirement.

“I think it’s going to pass,” he says of the mask requirement.

Board member Rick Wimberly says today he received an email that “really helped” him with his decision.

The email asks if they choose require masks, what’s the worst that can happen?

An anti-mask mandate person shouts out “depression!” as he walks out of meeting.

Board chair Nancy Garrett thanks first responders for staying duration of meeting. There’s a round of applause.

Garrett says social distancing is easier at FSSD that WCS because WCS deals with overcrowding.

Board chair Nancy Garrett says the anti-mask mandate folks think they’re in a majority, but after tallying up emails they’re not.

Her tally as of 3 pm for emails she personally received: 781 emails for masks. 348 against masks.

Board member Dan Cash said he won’t support a mask requirement.

Board member Sheila Cleveland said she’s concerned over mental health. She asks: “what’s more damaging than wearing a mask? I saw what happened to grade school kids who had to go online … that to me is more mentally detrimental for the children.”

Board member Jennifer Aprea said she received a message from one parent whose kids got covid at a funeral. One child suffers heart issues from the virus.

“I’m not willing to put kids at risk and have this on my conscience,” member Aprea says and says she plans to vote yes for a mandate.

Board member Jay Galbreath says it’s not appropriate to “make medical decisions on behalf of our kids.”

He’s now defending anti-mask mandate folks as not being against masks exactly, but wanting a choice in the matter.

Board member Jennifer Aprea is talking about when her daughter wasn’t allowed to bring peanut butter to school because of nut allergies: sometimes choices need to be made “for the good of the whole,” and that hasn’t happened without a mandate.

Board member Jay Galbreath said the fear of the coronavirus is “too much of a burden” to put on young children. He doesn’t want them to be fearful of others and think “that’s where germs can go.”

“I want to get to the point where everyone is responsible for their own health,” Galbreath says.

BREAKING: starting this Thursday, masks will be required in Williamson County elementary schools.

And with that, the meeting is over. Working on updating story now. Thank you to everyone who stuck with me tonight.