Mask Tensions Boil Over At Elmhurst D-205 Meeting

ELMHURST, IL — Elmhurst School District 205 took heat from both sides of the mask debate at its meeting Tuesday.

About 30 people spoke during public comments, which took dramatic turns at times. One man told hecklers, "Your boos feed me." Later, a woman threatened to take action against the board involving a surety bond.

On Monday, the district switched to a mask optional policy in response to a court order. Other districts did not follow it.

Rick Mandigo, the father of a special needs student, questioned why the district immediately changed to mask optional. He said his son's life is run by repetition and sameness.

But he said he wasn't demanding the world change for his family because he opposed the court ruling.

"I'm not trying to bully other people by being like, 'Why are the teachers still wearing masks?'" Mandigo said. "Well, if it's optional, they have the option to choose to wear that."

Then he heard hecklers.

"You can keep trying to drown me out, I don't care. Your boos feed me," he said, looking at the audience. "There is no legitimate reason to call out teachers' names or posting their information or protesting in front of the school union president's house. Let's fix problems. You don't win things by intimidating people."

In November 2020, a post appeared on the Facebook page for the Reopen D205 group calling for a demonstration at the union president's house. The page's administrators removed the post.

Another resident, Jennifer Hayes, looked at the board and said she was mad at "you guys" for carrying out the governor's mask mandate. She read a prepared speech about how mask-wearing hurt students academically, socially and emotionally. (Resident Jennifer Knapp Hayes has stated that another Jennifer Hayes spoke at the meeting.)

After a couple of minutes, Hayes put aside her speech and started raising her voice.

"You know what, screw this. I cannot believe we have social workers, we have speech pathologists, we have all these teachers who are teaching young children. And you're covering your faces, so they can't see your faces. Why not? Why are you afraid? Why are you indoctrinating all of our children?" Hayes said.

She said it needed to stop.

"You," she said, pointing at the board. "I have sent a (public records request) for your surety bond. People need to look up what we can do when we put up a claim against your surety bond. I'm starting that process now... Oh, you look around, once we put a claim against your surety bond, you cannot ever run again."

This threat has been raised in other places. In Iowa, an official referred to the practice by school board opponents as "dubious."

Resident Hillary Reiff said the district has used "subtle bullying" to gets its way on masks over the last two years. She contended students have been directly and indirectly told they are "vectors of disease" and "grandparent killers" They also have been told that the only way to prevent fatal outcomes is to wear masks.

She urged the district to be "harmonious" in its positioning on the issue and show students that the district is united and diverse.

"I would have to agree, it's disheartening to see every single one of you in a mask tonight," Reiff said, referring to the board. "That is not showing the ability for diversity, inclusion and a harmonious, supportive front for all families."

Reiff also objected to a sign at York High School, which she said reads, "Masks up, open hearts."

"That's implying if you don't mask, you don't have an open heart. You are not compassionate," she said. "That is not the truth."

Resident Ioana Fernandez said the bullying is against masked students.

"Moving from mask mandates to mask optional overnight created a tense atmosphere in our schools," she said. "Many students who choose to wear masks are being bullied and pressured to remove them by their non-mask-wearing peers. Teachers cannot get involved in these conversations because they will expose themselves to being harassed."

Last summer, the school board approved a mask optional policy, at Superintendent Keisha Campbell's request. Then the governor's mask mandate overrode it.