At Monday night’s school board meeting, superintendent, Katie Kolker, spoke about the schoolwide plan being implemented to adhere to the mask mandate for schools and how they are planning on keeping the children safe.
The plan is pretty straight forward. Masks inside, social distancing outside, rapid response testing in house if necessary.
The crowd was very opinionated on the topic. With multiple parents stating claims such as, masks cause UTI’s (urinary tract infections) and that masks are akin to, Sadaam Hussein. My favorite was one parent carrying his child in his arms asking, “If you have ever smelled someone’s fart while masked….”
But, seeing as this was a school board meeting, not a debate, people were allowed to air their grievances, but nothing was done to appease.
Having been a BUHS teacher myself for multiple years under Mrs Kolker’s guidance, I assure you, she is taking all sides into consideration and wants to help facilitate everyone’s needs and desires. But, as said, this is county mandate. She cannot do a thing about it. My opinion is, be thankful the kids can actually go to school this year and that Mrs. Kolker and her team are doing everything they can to keep them safe.
As a parent, it is your right to homeschool your children if any part of the masking mandate is unacceptable to you and your family.
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Your comment Is laughable. Are you seriously suggesting that home schooling is not valuable? Sometimes, children are battling cancer and other serious medical conditions. Some parents, as is their right, opt to home school for other reasons. I suggest you do a little research in the number of home schooled individuals that excel in school and society. How about the individuals that live miles from cities and cannot attend traditional school? For your information, many home schooled students are well rounded and participate in sports and other extracurricular productive activities.
All you parents who don’t want masks don’t seem to understand what will happen. Without masks, a COVID outbreak and sick children are going to happen real quick. Google “Georgia County Shuts Down Schools COVID”. They went “mask optional” with the same dumb arguments that our Bishop parents had and tons of kids got sick and guess what happened? Those same parents rushed their kids to the very medical professionals who tried to warned them.
Do you want to go back to remote learning? Because no masks is how we’ll get there real quick.
Time will show truths and reality. Shame on all of the negative behaviors that was reared by their fear and anger. It’s about lives, let the foolish tread their troubled waters in times of irreversible darkness, let the strong continue to put aside their own safety and frustration that keeps them caring for our community regardless of our beliefs and behaviors they have to tolerate thank you all. I will keep hope that civil unrest stops between neighbors, friends and family fueled by fear, hatred and false information. I will keep hope that this mutated variant Delta of Covid-19 will some how become a virus of the past. I will keep hope that people will stop dying because of Covid and other diseases/etc…. Is this truly about Covid-19 Delta and safety for all or is this about our community who’s right who’s wrong? I see many wanting to protect against Delta Covid, I see many wanting to protect their rights and beliefs. What I don’t see is many not wanting to work together to protect all. I am fully vaccinated I will wear a mask out of care and consideration for others, I am seriously immune compromised as well, I have been for years. The mask makes it harder to breathe at times when I can and do go out in public in a vehicle or to appointments not socializing or public recreation which I miss, but I am willing to sacrifice some of my little bit of comfort I have to help others as well myself. I have been battling many health issues for a long time, it’s a daily challenge and I am thankful I can wake up every morning to these challenges. So to all those who don’t believe in the Covid-19 virus and it’s mutated variants and don’t want to get vaccinated or wear a mask, yes it’s your right to choose but it’s not your right to make the choices for others and to possibly spread Covid to others just as it’s not right for others to judge if you choose not to, but for all of us who know and believe there’s Covid we all know people are dying from it and that this Delta variant is worse. It’s not about control which we all are already controlled to a certain extent anyway so why make it worse by battling. Let the believers continue their safety, concern and beliefs vaccinate wear masks etc….,let the nonbelievers continue in their beliefs not vaccinate not wear masks, home school their kids work remotely and keep their rights and both sides stop all this negativity and battling. Time will bring what it will bring.
I commented on the youtube video posted above, the less than 10 minute video, representing this meeting. All please look at my post on video for real info on how the meeting went and what was said. truth… you will never know truth unless you look at both sides thoroughly… prime example here with this article. You wouldn’t know what all really happened at meeting by reading the post above. I have faith, truth shines, even in the dark. New World Order agenda 2030. Look it up.
I actually followed the link you put up on face book and I have to admit, you scare me. I made it through the part about Covid-19 being a hoax perpetrated by the government and big pharma and then the “expert” who agreed with the hoax and then the vaccine magnetizing people. I couldn’t watch anymore and chose to make a desperate escape back to planet earth.
Can anyone provide a link to evidence that COVID causes significant problems in more than 5% (or 10%, or any number) of people who are vaccinated? If the vaccine prevents severe illness in 95% of people, then is it quite as bad as it was before a vaccine existed (and consider the 5% of people it doesn’t help are perhaps immunocompromised and susceptible to much more than just COVID).
I tried to post the link of the article in washington post that three quarters of those affected in a massive covid Massachusetts covid-19 outbreak have been vaccinated for it. Comments here won’t allow links perhaps. I can email you a ton more evidence on that. nectarheals11 @ g mail
A search on web will bring up the article mentioned above for links to proof of 3/4 in Massachusetts hospitalize for covid had covid vax in Washington post newspaper. Also many other doctors speaking up. White Coat Summit The One Year Reunion, Pathologist Dr Ryan Cole. Dr. Yeadon former Pfizer VP and 1000’s more doctors and pros. Its just being censored by white house biden admin and big tech. they already admit it. since when has those censoring doctors or anyone ever been the good guys? common sense. look at both sides while you can before they gain full control and remove ability to search anything not with their new world order agenda and a slave. Not worried most won’t believe, it’s been foretold they won’t. This message is for the few who hear and will work, test critical thinking and look at both sides with equal time to discover truth. I believed like you until I spent 20-30 hours a week while on unemployment searching it all to discover. It takes time but even if you only listened to 2 hours, do it or you can never say you looked at other side, not only that you believed what the government said. you know first way shirker cane into power was controlling the media, he was man of the year in 1933 on Time magazine.
Typo correction and/or autocorrection error above… Hitler was named person of the year in 1938. His first way to power was to control the media.
Shame on you, Emily Sims, for abusing this valuable platform to spread your misinformation and hate speech. Address your own demons before loosing them on the public.
It’s called “going down the rabbit hole” and in all seriousness you need to get help, that’s some scary stuff you’re following. That stuff is not from the other side it’s from another dimension. I don’t recommend watching the video but the first 2 points it makes is that Covid-19 doesn’t exist and the vaccine will magnetize you.
And then it just hit me. Your first example claims that covid-19 doesn’t exist, it’s all a big con by the powers that be. Then you follow it up with the English doctor who says the vaccine was made with a new process that has never been tried before and contains live “pieces” from covid-19 meaning that a large number of people that are vaccinated will die within 2 years. Can you see the problem with your logic? which one is it, a hoax or…….
Eric, good try, but using logic with illogical people never works. Thought disorders have a life of their own. Medication sometimes helps.
I tried that but the hangover was brutal and her comments were still there ….Oh, you weren’t talking about me?
PTSD from watching the video eh?
Viruses have thrived for millions of years and will mutate, change, develop variations to do so. The only way to combat this is to be vaccinated, wear a mask, and socially distance until we have this pandemic beat. The arrogance, ignorance, and stubbornness of individuals based on pure political misinformation in this country is appalling. People in other countries where the vaccine is unavailable are begging for it, can’t get it, and are dying. Here, in a country where it is in abundance and free, many states have thrown mass amounts of doses away because people who ought to know better, are refusing to accept a life saving alternative. Yet on their death beds, once it is no longer an option, they beg for it. Covid doesn’t care who you are, where you live, what religion you practice or even if you practice one. And most importantly, it doesn’t care who you vote for. It wants a host. Why have so many dumb idiots made this a political statement. It’s not about your freedom. It’s about your life…and everyone else that you come in contact with. When you talk about your rights, you had best think about the rights of everyone else. If you don’t want to be vaccinated or wear a mask, then if you get sick, don’t tie up a hospital bed that is needed for people who were more thoughtful than you. You made your choice way ahead of time. Doctors and nurses across the country are begging people to get vaccinated because they are exhausted. It’s not a joke. It’s real. Stop listening to false and misleading information. You know what the truth is. And having children wear masks at school is a small price to pay for keeping them safe. Shame on any parent who would think otherwise.
Is there a recording of the meeting? I looked at Bishop school website and could not find anything. Please point me in the right direction if it is available.
An abridged version is here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Pz8GXBT3Mg
I wish this video showed more of the angry mob. It was really horrific the way some people acted. To the mom that said it isn’t the kids responsibility to protect those in the high risk groups!!, what kind of self involved values are you teaching your children. How about teaching them to to give, sacrifice, put others first, and take care of your community.
Hard Truth. If you aren’t vaxed then don’t go runnin to a hospital when covid catches up with
you.
https://www.tiktok.com/@speakthetruth101/video/6992891922859740422?sender_device=pc&sender_web_id=6995935930871940613&is_from_webapp=v1&is_copy_url=0
Can you imagine if you applied this logic to other avoidable diseases and health issues? Obesity, aids, lung cancer? Be careful with what you say and which ideas you propagate. We should be compassionate to everyone.
The behavior displayed by those who are for mask choice at this meeting should be absolutely ashamed of themselves. It was bad enough that they came armed with misinformation and absolute disregard for the safety of the staff and students, but the low point was when the booed healthcare workers who have were only there to provide the latest information so the board could make an informed decision. These healthcare workers are tired and this Delta variant has complicated things for an already burned out workforce. To watch this display was shameful and disgusting. For those of you that want to disagree with mandates in place that frankly are saving your lives then do so with respect. Everyone listened to you while you brought all of your misinformation and conspiracy theories so you should have given the same respect for everyone else. Instead of looking like concerned community members with a different point of view you looked like entitled teenagers throwing a tantrum. This variant has caused an increase in cases and the children are getting sicker this time and transmitting the virus to each other and their parents. I hope that we can get through this wave as a community with minimal impact, but after watching the behavior of so many community members I am not very hopeful. Please help stop the spread of this virus and get vaccinated and wear a mask.
You mean like remaining quiet while the people you agree with speak and booing and drowning out the people that actually have information based on facts that you don’t like? Hypocritical much?
Though I appreciate the Sierra Wave for keeping the community informed I thought this article was bias. It was very clear that the reporter was on the schools side and completely dismissed the parents that didn’t agree. And here lies the problem with the media. It is not necessary to negate someone’s opinion because you don’t agree.
The virus is real. However, the size of the virus is VERY small. Masks are not 100% or possibly 50% effective on reducing the transmission. Consider this, with the size of the virus as small as it is, capturing and reducing it is similar to stopping a mosquito with a chain link fence. The mosquito will get through as will the virus. Vaccination is the major factor in not getting really sick and on a respirator or dead. The delta virus is more contagious than the original one and affects young adults. Be smart, protect yourself. Yes, there is personal responsibility and personal choice. However, if you get sick, you may transmit the infection to your family and you will tie up a bed in the hospital.
A reporter’s job is to report the truth, not “both sides”. As was once taught in journalism school, “if one politician says it’s raining and the other says it’s a clear sunny day, your job is to stick your head out the window and see, not just flatly report both.”
When your “sides” consist of every respectable medical expert and organization in the country, and a group of conspiracy-theorist dupes, “balanced reporting” would be highly unprofessional.
Sami
So true.
I heard today some theorists saying the actual thinking and reasoning behind getting the vaccinations is the Government’s way of installing a “chip” into those getting the shots..and nothing really to do with fighting-off the COVID….
Sami are you serious!!! Too bad Reagan closed so many psych hospitals!
Pele, if this is the first time you’ve heard this you must keep your head in the sand.
Do you mean biased by going with facts and evidenced based medicine?
The shameful and hateful behavior towards the school board and local physicians/healthcare members by ignorant selfish community members is horrific!
These are the same people continuing to work tirelessly to keep our kids safe and treat us when we need healthcare.
Remember when certain people last year were saying, “if you’re scared, just stay home“
Well I say, “If you’re not going to be part of the solution for the community and care for your neighbors and friends by getting vaccinated, YOU SHOULD STAY HOME!”
My kids were always moms and my responsibility. For all the kids in school, it is the School Board with responsibility. In light of the awful reports from Florida, Texas, wherever the Delta surge is prominent and infections include 29% being kids, I am grateful to our School Board for the mandatory mask and mitigation measures. For those who disagree please consider what your tolerance level of school kid infections would be and hate to mention the other alternatives like hospitalizations………………….
If you don’t like the law, don’t go yelling at the School Board waiving your flag. Go try and get the law changed.
to the person who believes masks cause urinary tract infections: I think you are wearing the mask in the wrong place
Start Home Schooling Groups.
Yes, please do. If you don’t believe in science, and aren’t ready to accept the recommendation from every respectable medical association, that masks should be worn in schools, keep your kids home.
Disinformation, flagged. There are plenty of highly repectable medical experts such as Dr. Makary of Johns Hopkins who believe that masks are at best a placebo and at worst harmful to childrens’ social and emotional development.
Dr. Makary also claimed that Covid-19 would be gone by April 2021. So maybe his disagreement with the position of many mainstream medical groups should be taken with a grain of salt.
My bad, your probably right Charles. I hadn’t realized that the American Academy of Pediatrics was now recommending masks in schools
And if you don’t believe in science and medicine don’t go to the hospital when you get sick.
Taliban is big on home schooling. it is how they keep children from learning about human efforts to become civilized.
If you’re a 15 year old female in Afghanistan and not already married you will be taken by the Taliban to be a Taliban fighters wife. Of course this is Trumps fault.
I hope releasing a deadly virus on the World to prevent Trump from being re-elected was worth it.
FatWhite… I will assume your statement is a joke. Nobody ( except maybe QANON) would actually believe this. If you are not joking, you are a prime example of someone who believes the wealth of mis-information being spread by the media like FOX news without checking the facts for yourself.
I digress. Masks are simply to protect- not a political move at all – as so many try to portray.
We are circling the drain here folks…. so hard to be optimistic with this kind of s#%@ . That people REALLY believe.
Jubie, I’m vaccinated and the last time I watched TV law enforcement was chasing a white ford bronco down the freeway. I have for the most part avoided all information spread by the media.
I’m almost afraid to ask……..where DO you get your information?
Several of the anti-mask zealots also booed the doctors from NIH that came to share actual facts, as opposed to Facebook conspiracies.
MANY of the more hostile speakers don’t even have children in Bishop area public schools.
Very grateful the school board did not kowtow to the weirdos.
Maybe Facebook and Twitter could team up and open their own hospitals where the self appointed experts can practice the latest and greatest alternative treatments on their followers. I mean if you’re unwilling to trust the actual medical professionals from the real hospitals, why would you allow them to treat you if you get sick?
I was appalled by the behavior I witnessed during last night’s meeting. Heckling of medical experts, accusing teachers of purposely abusing students, disregarding the safety of others, spewing misinformation and political rhetoric. The spectacle has forever changed my opinion of people I once respected.
Thank you to those board members who voted to keep our students, teachers, and staff safe.
To those of you who don’t want to abide by the mandate, you have a choice. Exercise your right to keep your children home.
(And if your child’s mask is positive for UTI bacteria, you need to do some better parenting!)
I was very impressed by the professionalism and courage shown by the Board.
Being elected to the board is the equivalent to a high school popularity contest.
Which according to you means they are incapable of doing the job?
Keep your kids home!