A Georgia teacher s obituary pleaded for mask wearing. At a school board meeting, 3 officials refused. Grace Hauck, USA TODAY
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In the wake of three teacher deaths from COVID-19 in Cobb County, Georgia, school board officials refused to wear face masks at a board meeting Thursday when asked by a district employee.
It was kindergarten art teacher Patrick Key s dying wish. Patrick felt passionate about wearing masks during the pandemic, his obituary said. In lieu of flowers, please buy and wear a mask to protect others and yourself in honor of him.
Key, 53, a Marietta resident, died Christmas Day after a 41-day battle with COVID-19 in the ICU, according to the obituary. He was a life-long lover of all things comic books, science fiction, Star Wars and Manga, the obituary said. He taught in Cobb County, a suburban county of Atlanta, for 23 years.
At the board meeting last week, district employee Jennifer Susko spoke during the public comment session. She asked all eight board members and the superintendent to honor Key by observing a moment of silence and putting on face masks as a tribute to this teacher, who did everything you asked of him – even teaching through a pandemic. As teachers and staff are being asked to do more than ever, we would appreciate that more be done to remember and honor Patrick tonight, Susko said, according to a recording of the meeting.
As Susko paused for more than 10 seconds of silence, two board members and the superintendent, who were not wearing face masks, did not put one on.