Protests hit school board meeting
Group from District 33C opposes mask mandates, sex education changes
Parents from Homer Elementary District 33C and neighboring school districts packed Tuesday’s school board meeting to voice concerns about mask mandates and raise questions about curriculum.
The Illinois Patriots, which has a private group on Facebook, organized the turnout and intends to take their message district to district, urging board to lift mask mandates and refuse to teach a sex education program included in a bill awaiting Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s signature.
Parents also raised concerns about critical race theory and its place in curriculum.
Monday’s meeting drew more than 30 parents from District 33C and neighboring school districts. Of the 15 who spoke during them meeting, at least half were from outside District 33C, school officials said.
Though board members did not respond to any parent comments, District 33C School Board President Debra Martin read a statement in which she urged concerned parents to contact state lawmakers and the Illinois State Board of Education.
“Just as we teach our students to stand up for what they believe is right, we would continue to encourage any community members with concerns to advocate for their children by contracting and petitioning local and state leaders that currently influence such impactful decisions,” Martin said.
She said the district is following state board guidance as it relates to a full return to school this fall and that, at this time, the state still mandates that masks be worn in
school.
Martin also said that while the district has some flexibility in academic decisions, it does not have the ability to simply refuse to follow a state mandate.
“We do not have the latitude to decide whether or not to adhere to laws and school code language that is passed down through the state legislature or the state school board,” Martin said.
Homer Township Supervisor Steve Balich, who also serves on the Will County Board and chairs the Homer GOP, suggested school board members could adopt a resolution saying the district would not employ the sex education curriculum proposed by the state, which Balich said would be an unfunded mandate by the state. He also urged board members to pen a letter to Pritzker urging him to veto Senate Bill 818, which includes changes regarding sex education.
“If they say they’re going to cut funding off, then cut the funding off, because guess what, the kids are more important than the damn money and we can’t have it,” Balich said. “If people stand up, we can win and protect our children.”
Many parents expressed concerns about the sex education changes included in SB 818. Parents suggested the curriculum was “pornography for children” and was not appropriate. Under the bill, school districts would be required to teach personal health and safety beginning in kindergarten. If signed into law, the change would take effect in 2023. Parents, however, would have the ability to opt out.
Parents also raised concerns over the use of critical race theory in curriculum. Martin noted that Illinois learning standards “do not overtly include critical race theory at the K-12 levels.”
Many who spoke also were critical of mask wearing and urged board members to make face coverings optional for the coming school year. They also urged board members to remove any quarantine policies and opt out of any COVID-19 testing mandates.
“This needs to be a choice,” said a woman who would only identify herself as Christina Mc and an organizer with Illinois Patriots. “This isn’t about our kids health anymore and you know it. It’s everything about control.”
She said mask wearing develops fear and anxiety in young children and that in many places masks are no longer mandated. Some parents also said they opted to keep their children at home this past school year due to concerns over mask wearing and quarantine policies for those who may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19.