Eagle County School District starts to see COVID-19 numbers trend down vaildaily.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from vaildaily.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Ali Longwell/alongwell@vaildaily.com
For the past few months, groups of parents have been showing up at Eagle County Board of Education meetings to express their opinions and ask questions about the way the district is doing things.
These parents have expressed concerns over how the district is handling COVID-19, requesting the release of mask and vaccine requirements, as well as how their kids are being taught, asking for more insight into school’s curriculum.
“Sadly but true, bad policy in this district and around the country is responsible for the mental decline of our students,” said Krista Keiser, an EagleVail resident at the May 26 board meeting.
A screenshot from Wednesday’s school board meeting shows Travis Ward, a parent, speaking out against the school district’s decision to require masks for the remainder of the school year.
Tensions regarding the mask mandate at Eagle County Schools reached its peak at Wednesday’s school board meeting.
With only a few days left in the school year, nearly 40 parents and community members attended the meeting and nearly 20 voiced their opinions, both in person and via email, regarding the district’s continued enforcement of a mask mandate at the schools.
“We really appreciate your comments, I respect your bravery and your passion to come here and tell us what you think and how you feel about your kids and to see all these people advocating for your students and you students’ rights,” said Kate Cocchiarella, president of the Eagle County Board of Education. “It’s been a long time since we’ve seen protest posters and it just warms my heart.”
Screenshot
Eagle County Emergency Management Director Birch Barron launched his COVID-19 update this week by noting the finish line is in sight for the county’s public health orders.
A group of county residents then made the argument the county should already be finished with its mask mandate.
“We need to stop all mandates,” Gypsum resident Jennifer French said. “After a year of playing along, we are done.”
Two weeks ago, local public health officials shared a target date of May 27 to rescind the county’s current health order and end the COVID-19 emergency declaration. During his Tuesday presentation to the Eagle County Board of Commissioners, Barron noted that date was set after discussion with school officials and other community entities. The goal, Barron noted, was to keep precautions in place until the end of the school year and to give county residents a specific target so they move forward from pandemic restrictions.