Wichita school board meeting rescheduled; new member says she was bullied over mask

The Wichita school board meeting that was abruptly suspended Monday evening has been rescheduled for next Tuesday, according to board President Stan Reeser, who shut down the meeting when three board members refused to wear face masks.

In a Tuesday afternoon email to parents, Reeser affirmed that masks will be required for board and audience members alike at next week’s meeting.

“Should a BOE member not wish to comply, members may participate in the meeting remotely, but will not be able to vote remotely per BOE policy 0200,” Reeser said.

“Should an audience member not wish to comply, they may watch the entire meeting live on Cox Channel 20, online at www.usd259.org/wpstvonline, or on the Livestream app.”

The school board unanimously approved its masking mandate for all district buildings last August.

Diane Albert, Hazel Stabler and Kathy Bond, the new members who would not put on masks when asked, defeated three incumbents who favored the safety precaution.

On Tuesday, Albert characterized Reeser’s decision to call off the meeting as politically motivated.

“We were there to do board business, and Mr. Reeser wanted to make a political stunt and try to shame us and bully us into putting on a mask,” Albert told The Eagle.

“I don’t think we tolerate bullying in schools. He’s exhibiting bullying to other school board members that were duly elected, and the residents, the parents, the teachers, the students of Wichita have wanted us to be there.”

Reeser did not respond to repeated requests for comment Tuesday. Before suspending Monday’s meeting, he said board members going unmasked for a meeting inside a school was “a message we cannot send”.

“This district cannot vote on directives, policies and protocols that we expect students, staff and visitors to abide by, all the while exempting BOE members,” he said.

Albert said she felt “ambushed” by Reeser.

“Prior to this meeting, we’ve had many trainings and meetings with the district, and they’ve made accommodations for us — mask-free and what not,” Albert said.

Board member Sheril Logan said if new board members don’t like district policy, they should suggest changes.

“There is a procedure and a way that you change things if you want to change them, and it’s not by ignoring what’s going on. You follow rules and then you change rules in the appropriate way,” Logan said. “They have decided they just don’t have to do it.”

Logan said she hopes board members can set aside their differences and work together for the benefit of the district’s students and staff.

“We are about the business of doing the work of the school district and helping kids,” Logan said. “That’s certainly been my intent, and I think it’s the other board members’ intent, including our new board members, so I’m hoping we get past this and are able to move on.”

Last week in the Wichita area, 6,700 people tested positive for COVID-19, Sedgwick County Health Officer Dr. Garold Minns told the Wichita City Council on Tuesday. That’s up from about 1,600 two weeks earlier.

“This virus has just taken over,” Minns said. “It has massively increased. That’s the highest number of cases we’ve had a week since this whole thing started.”

Albert said she campaigned on “mask choice” and looks forward to reevaluating board policy on COVID-19 safety measures in schools.

“Masks can be an option for some. And maybe that fits that individual’s health needs better, but it is not always beneficial for everyone to wear a mask,” Albert said. “That’s the conversation that we need to have where individuals can make the best health decisions for themselves and we can focus on being healthy.”

Logan said eliminating masks in schools would be decidedly counterproductive at a time when the county is facing its worst COVID crisis of the pandemic.

“Kids have to feel safe at school. Parents have to feel like they’re safe. We have to do everything we can to keep them safe,” Logan said. “Right now, masks help us do that. Is it the total answer? The answer is no. But it’s part of the answer to keeping kids and teachers and staff in school, and we want to use every tool we have to keep our buildings open and our teachers teaching and our students learning.”

Next Tuesday’s meeting will be held at the district’s Alvin Morris Administrative Center at noon.