With at least 11 school employee deaths from Covid so far in Kentucky, the deaths of 3 children, and growing numbers of cases of infected children daily, we are cautiously optimistic that the House version of the mirror education bills does not currently contain an amendment like the version in the Senate, filed by Sen. Matt Castlen, R-Owensboro, effectively banning local districts from the ability to require masks.
We are hopeful that legislators will continue to fine tune the bill with the safety of all children and school employees in mind.
Jeni Ward Bolander posted this on KY120's Facebook page on Tuesday:I attended day one of the special session today, and I wish I had better news to report. I’m thankful I was masked, because it took everything in me not to just openly sob. Republican legislators were proudly crowing that they would be getting rid of the mask mandate in schools and preschools. When I mentioned how concerned I was for my 4 year old who I was thankful was being required to wear a mask at school and has had no issues with it, they told me to remind the preschool director that not following the CDC guidelines would open them up to a lawsuit. So, I have to wait to see if my child will get sick at school, then sue. That was their plan. I adore kiddos preschool, and their director, and the church it’s based out of, and am having a very hard time with that advice.I saw another person comment on twitter that teachers should just shut up and do our job, that this was what we signed up for. No, no it is absolutely not what I signed up for. If I wanted to spend my days around people who potentially had an illness that could kill me or my child if I brought it home, I would have went into the medical profession. I did not sign up to see report after report of teachers on vents and dying. My colleagues. My peers. There have been approximately 9 deaths of school personnel in Kentucky from Covid. We’ve lost 3 people under the age of 18, with a 15 year old sophomore passing over the holiday weekend. How many will it take? How many is enough? I work with students with special needs, many of whom are medically fragile, some who cannot take the shot for medical reasons and some who the virus would absolutely kill them if they contracted it with their already weakened immune systems. The only protection they have in the classroom is a mask, and the Republican legislators in Frankfort are vowing to do away with mask mandates. Do my students lives not matter? Does mine? My child’s? My co-workers? I just can’t help but think of Jesus’s words here where he said in Matthew 25: 40-45 40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’(A)41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me,( you who are cursed, into the eternal fire(C) prepared for the devil and his angels.(D) 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ 44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’(E)When did our commonwealth stop caring about the common good? How can people who claim to be pro-life be ok with a death toll that keeps climbing when it doesn’t have to?A lot of my colleagues are scared, frustrated, and very tired. I know several are looking at retirement years before they would have gone, and I know many others are looking at taking FMLA to protect themselves and their families from a virus the GOP has no intention or interest in slowing. I love my job, but if I am being honest, if I had only 3 more years under my belt, I’d absolutely be looking at early retirement, because my job, my love of teaching, and the students, are not worth my life or the life of my child.I don’t know what the answer is, but after a day in Frankfort, I can say it’s not there. There are some people working hard and fighting for us, but the Republican super majority in both chambers will effectively silence any input they would like to have. I’m sad, and I’m scared, and I’m definitely not alone in those feelings. You can contact your legislators at 1-800-372-7181, or if you want to email, I will be happy to help you find that. We need all the help we can get.Picture below of one of the amazing Representatives fighting the good fight.