'Sweaty Noses' Remark In D-205 Draws Jeers, Gavel

ELMHURST, IL — The debate over masks got heated during public comment at Wednesday's meeting of the Elmhurst School District 205 board. At one point, the board president wielded her gavel, a rarity for her.

More than two dozen parents spoke during public input. A few supported a mask mandate, while most opposed it. And the majority made their numbers apparent by applauding after every anti-mask speaker.

On video: See the reaction to the "sweaty noses" comment and how the board president responded.

Resident Lisa Sullivan, who has two smaller children in the schools, noted that agencies such as the CDC recommended masks in schools in the fall. She said it was important to follow such guidance. And she said mask opponents had little evidence on their side.

"All they have left is some studies they found on Twitter that suggest masking may not be fully effective, may not be necessary," Sullivan said. "If we require masks and we later discover they were unnecessary, then the worst consequence will be our kids had some sweaty noses at school."

Opponents reacted with jeers and mocking laughter.

That prompted board President Kara Caforio to pound her gavel.

"We're not going to do that, OK," she said. "I asked for a respectful environment, and that's what we're going to do."

Sullivan concluded by saying the district should mandate masks for unvaccinated students.

Another parent, Erica Fine, who has an incoming kindergartener and second grader in the schools, took exception to the "sweaty noses" comment.

Fine said her 5-year-old recently was found to have an articulation speech delay. She blamed that problem on the mask mandate.

"This is not an issue of a sweaty nose. I am confident her speech would have improved on her own if she could see her teachers and her peers speak and her teachers could see her speak and hear her little voice," Fine said, fighting back tears. "She is clearly behind, and she suffered from masking. So what am I to do? What risk benefit does my daughter face with required masking?"

Fine urged the board to make masks and vaccinations optional.

Later in the meeting, the board voted unanimously to do just that.