CLASHING Parents, students share concerns about ZCS masking policies with board
By Lucy Robinson, Student Life Editor
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ince the ZCS school board’s decision on masks was made over the summer, school board meetings have been a hotspot for community outrage and opinion. At the full meeting on Aug. 9 there were seven police officers present, two of which had metal detectors for those walking in. “Our police partners have been attending our board meetings for several years,” School Board President Debbie Ungar said. “There are sometimes additional officers based on the anticipated size of the crowd.” Most of the parents at the meeting were there to address the school board, and some presented their complaints with a lack of community input prior to the most recent mask mandate. The board voted, 3 -2, on July 28 to require masks for students under age 12. “‘Was this not worthy of a survey monkey?’” parent Heather Pervis asked at the meeting. “Let’s do a survey and see how parents are feeling about this. One question is all you need, ‘would you like your kid to wear a mask, yes or no?’ that’s it.” Two students spoke at the meeting about their experience with masks, Hadley Pervis, a sixth grader, and Ryan Murry, a fifth grader. “I’ve always liked school, last year was difficult though,” Hadley Pervis said. “It was my first year of middle school and it was hard enough learning my schedule. Everybody told us that we would be out of masks by next year, but yet that did not happen. And
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I strongly believe masks should be optional, the mask mandate, and one adult, Hull, vaccinated or not.” spoke in favor of it. At the meeting several parents brought “Masks are the easiest method we have their complaints about the school board’s deavailable right now to care about one another cision, arguing both for and against masking. in this pandemic. They are more effective “I chose to speak at the board meeting the more people that wear them,” Hull said. because I firmly believe that a community is “Therefore, it is better community health shaped and made by its participants, so it’s policy to instate a district-wide mask mandate imperative that we, as community members, now. It seems the simplest way to prevent speak up if we would like to see something large-scale quarantines, remote learning, and change in the community,” parent Kelin Hull even lockdowns.” said. “If only one person is talking or one On the other side, a common argument point of view is shared, then the community won’t move in the direction you, as a member, would hope. It means you aren’t putting in the work to help shape it.” At the Aug. 9 meeting there were two main viewpoints present. Four adults and two children Several Zionsville residents have displayed signs in their yards to protest the current mask policies. spoke against photo by Elizabeth Rexing
