It has been a few months since the topic of masking has infiltrated the Clinton Board of Education meeting but that changed Tuesday night when a CES teacher offered her thoughts.
Fifth-grade teacher Shelby Shipley is standing up for her students and her kids. One of her kids is facing increased allergy concerns she believes are stemming from masking and another severely disabled child who is have seizures she also believes are stemming from masking in school.
According to Shipley, she previously worked in the pharmaceutical world and has a very good understanding of analyzing studies and their data. She laid out a number of concerns with recently released data by the CDC.
Last month, at an Illinois Association of School Administrators gathering, pictures surfaced on social media of administrators from all corners of the state unmasked. Shipley called out that meeting and expressed her anger over those leaders pictured in the images.
Shipley points to local data which shows cases in DeWitt County precipitously declining in the last several weeks and compared United States school COVID data to other countries.
Superintendent Curt Nettles engaged with Shipley admitting he did not have answers to her questions however, indicated later in the meeting he continues to address the Illinois State Board of Education and did so Tuesday.
Nettles was encouraged by ISBE's increased dialogue with those that spoke on Tuesday. In previous attempts to engage the ISBE, Nettles has described their reactions as inattentive and standoffish at best.
Board Secretary Sondra Baker was able to hear some of the meeting and she too was encouraged by the dialogue among board members that make up ISBE.
Nettles will join the WHOW Morning Show Wednesday morning to follow up the Tuesday night meeting.
Also at the Tuesday board meeting, the Board approved Chris Hammer as the Board's newest Vice President. Wes Cothern was sworn onto the Board Tuesday. Last month, long-time Board member Rodney Rodgers resigned his post on the Board.
The Board also heard about new plans for the playground equipment at Lincoln School. They also heard from engineers regarding a redesign and renovation of the high school cafeteria.
