Chesapeake teachers’ union organizes protest over masks, votes no confidence on school board
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The Chesapeake teachers’ union is protesting the school board’s decision to make masking optional as school divisions statewide grapple with implementation of Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s executive order scrapping school mask mandates.
The union is encouraging employees to wear black to school and work to contract hours “as much as practicable and decline additional duties and responsibilities,” according to a post on the Chesapeake Education Association’s Facebook page. The move comes after the association ratified a vote of no confidence in the Chesapeake School Board.
“This vote reflects an utter lack of confidence in Chesapeake School Board members’ ability to lead ethically and equitably,” a press release from the association reads.
Social media posts publicizing the protests do not indicate how long the actions are expected to last. The CEA president could not immediately be reached for clarification.
Chesapeake schools are conducting classes virtually Monday due to hazardous road conditions persisting after the weekend snowstorm.
The school board voted 7-1 Thursday rescind its mask mandate after Youngkin issued an executive order Jan. 15 rescinding mask requirements in schools. The order says no “teacher, school, school district, the Department of Education, or any other state authority” could force a student to wear a mask if their parents objected.
The order took effect Monday. The Chesapeake School Board has its regular meeting Monday night.
A group of 13 Chesapeake parents — all supporters of mask mandates — have sued to block the order, contending Youngkin overstepped his legal authority. Attorney General Jason Miyares filed a motion Thursday to dismiss the lawsuit.
In addition to the parents’ lawsuit, seven school districts filed a lawsuit Monday challenging Youngkin’s mask order.
While the Chesapeake protest does not directly interrupt classes, student-led protests in other states over local coronavirus response have elicited more disruptive actions. In Maryland, students at 21 high schools in Montgomery County, in suburban Washington, D.C., held walkouts Friday in protest of the public school system’s response to COVID-19.
Ali Sullivan, 757-677-1974, ali.sullivan@virginiamedia.com
