"I can't imagine the stress a parent of young children might have," said Vicki Vargas, one of several parents speaking out Monday evening in the board room of the West Liberty Community School District Board of Education meeting following a work session discussing whether students in the district – especially those who have not been vaccinated for COVID-19 – should be wearing a mask, along with their teachers.
"My kids are vaccinated," she told the board, calling it a "hard seat to be sitting in" in making such decisions, pointing out, "We all don't wear the same shoes."
The district, which has had nine COVID-19 cases among students since the beginning of the school year according to elementary school nurse Kayla Morrison, after setting an optional masking policy is fighting an 11.2 percent rate of infection in Muscatine County according to the Iowa Department of Public Health.
School administrators say teachers and families have all been "great" about staying home if they feel ill and some have even taken COVID-19 tests, most of which come back negative.
About a dozen parents, all but one promoting mandating masking in the schools, addressed the board, which could not comment on the issue, only listening to what residents had to say.
Stephanie Vallez said she believes one of the best things about living in West Liberty is the fact people "give a crap" about each other. She encouraged masking, noting the "best thing we can do for each other is to wear a piece of cloth over our face."
Tyler Riley was the only parent sticking up for the school district's decision to have masks optional for students, noting people have the right to choose, pointing out the country is about "liberty." He said his wife serves as a substitute teacher and encourages students to wear masks, honoring their parents requests.
Deb Lowman said the easiest thing the board can do is "be non-commital" but said the worst thing is to be inconsistent with choices. She encouraged school officials to use the library to learn the science behind the pandemic and the use of masks. Stephanie Mueller also encouraged following scientific facts noting the best thing people can do is "wear a mask, be socially distant and wash your hands."
One parent who noted she had a kindergarten student who was "high risk" said she wasn't comfortable sending her child to school, although she didn't want to use the virtual education option either, noting it wasn't favorable for her youngsters. She said masking could be temporary, noting the vaccine for children under 11 could be available "in a couple of months."
Monica Leo, a local business owner, said she didn't understand "why this ever was an issue."
"It's such a small thing to do," she said, noting most kids she's seen "are cool with it."
Linley Heath said it's not easy taking a stand to mandate making. "If something's hard, that doesn't mean we shouldn't do it," she said.
The most vulnerable students in the district are in the Early Learning Center and Elementary School, where every precaution is taken by teachers, maintenance workers, nurses and other personnel, according to administator Jenny Laughlin.
The Index will have more on the meeting in next week's issue.