As many of you have heard, the Mayfield Central School District Board of Education unexpectedly adjourned its meeting last night, February 15, 2022, when members of the public refused to comply with the New York mask mandate. As such, our school board was not able to finish the work it intended to complete. After spending a significant amount of time reflecting on last night’s board meeting, I feel it is necessary to communicate with all of you.
In our respective roles, members of the Board of Education and I are responsible for the health and safety of all individuals who enter our facilities. When some members of the public refused to wear masks as is required in schools by New York mandate, and when a member of the public began to yell at the board, we felt the safest choice was to adjourn the meeting. For those who complied with our request to wear masks, we thank you. Our hope was to keep the meeting going.
We are aware the mask mandate is a polarizing topic. We acknowledge that people have different opinions on this matter, and the most important and valued people in our lives — our children — are impacted by this mandate. We, too, look forward to an end to this pandemic and a resumption of our normal lives. As an educator with over 20 years of experience, I spent the vast majority of my career educating students in an environment without masks. Students’ smiles were seen and their laughter was not muffled by a face covering. These are odd times, and we look forward to when we can get back to normal, whatever that new normal may be.
In the meantime, while we wait for next steps from the Governor, I must impress upon you that we are in this together. Our teachers have worked tirelessly throughout this pandemic to make school as normal as possible, administrators have spent countless hours on weekends and at night performing contact tracing while the normal duties of their position remained waiting for them, and the Board has taken time away from their families to ensure school remains a safe and positive place for students to come every day. We are not divided in wanting a sense of normalcy. It remains the primary objective of the Board, the school employees, and parents. We are in this together.
While we wait for changes to the mask mandate, I must remind you that we cannot lose our sense of civility, respect, and decorum. We are adults and responsible for providing an example to our young students. We owe it to them. I was sad to observe people speaking out of turn and yelling at board members at last night’s meeting. This does nothing to serve the underlying cause. In fact, it divides us more.
Please remember our board members have volunteered their time to be here. Our teachers have spent more hours working at home than ever before to make things as normal as possible for our children. Our administrators have spent weekends working at the expense of spending time with their families. These are not people who are failing your children. They are hardworking, selfless people who want the best for the students at Mayfield schools. They are doing their best in unprecedented times, and it is important that their efforts be commended, and not ridiculed.
Moving forward, please remember that while the mask mandate remains in effect, students and visitors alike will be required to wear masks while in public school buildings. This requirement is posted on all doors to the building and includes school board meetings. For those who do not have masks, you will be supplied one.
For those who attended last night’s board meeting to speak during public comment, we will be rescheduling the meeting shortly and apologize for having to abruptly end the meeting. To ensure movement through public comment moving forward, the Board will put a process in place to keep public comment orderly and efficient. And, please remember, public comment is just that – the public’s opportunity to comment during the Board’s meeting. It is not a period of question-and-answer with the Board.
Thank you for remaining invested in the education of your children and in our community. Should you have any questions or concerns about this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Christopher M. Harper
Superintendent of Schools