COLLINSVILLE - Collinsville CUSD 10 Superintendent Mark Skertich said board members who attempted to leave a crowded school board meeting on Feb. 7 while parents were speaking did not do so out of disrespect but out of misunderstandings due to the noise.
“No one was doing that as a lack of respect,” he said. “You couldn’t hear five feet from you, let alone across the room.”
“I’m not offering an excuse, I’m telling you what it was like that evening,” he added.
Video recordings from the school board meeting show two elected members get up and attempt to leave while parents were voicing their frustrations over the school’s interpretation of a temporary restraining order granted by Sangamon County Judge Raylene Grischow on Feb. 4.
Grishchow’s order forbids Gov. J.B. Pritzker from ordering public schools to require students, teachers and others to wear masks while in school buildings. Pritzker immediately appealed the order, with the appellate court expected to expedite the case.
In response, Skertich sent a message to parents on Feb. 6 informing them that only the children of the five families in the school district who are plaintiffs in the lawsuit will be allowed to attend school without masks.
Skertich said School Board President Gary Peccola allowed the public to comment on the masking decision for more than 30 minutes - limiting speakers to five minutes each - when he attempted to move on with the meeting. Skertich said school board policy allows for the president to stop public comments when he deems it necessary.
He said Peccola tried to end public comments by using his gavel three speakers before the last parent spoke in order to switch to closed session to address an issue that was on the agenda. However, he said that due to the noise, only those board members who stood up had heard the announcement that they were going into closed session.
“Those who could hear, went,” Skertich said.
The father speaking when the board members can be seen standing up and grabbing their things said he immigrated from Bosnia when he was in fifth grade to escape genocide. Video of the incident shows a mostly calm crowd with occasional applause. Someone in the crowd asked the board members, “Hey, where are you going?”
The man who was speaking could be heard talking about how their freedoms were taken away in Bosnia, beginning with “simple things” like their freedom of speech.
“It was the simple small things, because you couldn’t walk down the street and tell your neighbor how you really felt, because your neighbor might rat out on you,” he said. “And that’s where we’re at right now, we’re starting to see that.”
However, Skertich said the crowd lacked civility and respect. He explained that while many individuals “spoke passionately and very calmly,” there were others who yelled and interrupted.
“When some were trying to speak, people were screaming and hollering,” he said.
Skertich said he understands that the public is upset and angry over the mask mandates and encouraged public comments, but asked individuals to “behave themselves with respect and public civility.” If parents were unable to speak at the meeting but want to voice their concerns, he said they can email the board members and expect a response from them.
Skertich said the school district will abide by the appellate court ruling on the mask mandates, but said people will be angry from either side regardless of what decisions the district makes.
“At the end of the day, we’re here to educate kids,” he said. “That’s our goal. We’re grateful that we have parents who are passionate and love their children, … but right now school districts are stuck right in the middle of the mask-on or mask-off issue angering our society. It’s not a place we want to be.”
Skertich’s Feb. 6 message reads in its entirety:
Kahok Families,
Nothing about navigating the current school year has been easy for our students, staff or families. Because we pride ourselves in full transparency, I am reaching out to you today with an update on how a recent court ruling will impact our school district.
The political divide in our country eventually made its way into the courtroom resulting in a ruling with implications for our schools. As a school district we do not choose sides, but rather consult with district legal counsel to make decisions that provide a safe environment for our students and staff, and allow our students to grow academically and socially.
After consultation with district legal counsel, Friday’s ruling/order from Sangamon County Circuit Judge Raylene Grischow means the children of the five families in our district who are plaintiffs in the lawsuit will no longer be required to wear masks or be excluded from school if they are determined to be a close contact to a positive case. The ruling does not apply to all students at this time.
The ruling/order will be appealed and a decision from the appellate court will come in the next two weeks. In the meantime, the following is effective throughout CUSD 10 beginning February 7, 2022:
- The five plaintiffs (families/students) named in the litigation may attend school without a mask and will not be excluded as close contacts. Each of the respective families will be provided electronic correspondence by a district representative prior to school on Monday.
- Families/students not named in the litigation will continue to be required to wear a mask throughout the school day.
- Masks will continue to be worn by all staff throughout the school day.
- Masks are still required on school buses by all staff and students.
- Our heightened cleaning protocols will be maintained throughout the school day and windows will be opened in classes to provide additional fresh air in classrooms.
- Students will continue to be socially distanced to the greatest extent possible in the classrooms, hallways and cafeterias.
Earlier this year I shared with our families that during a difficult time in our personal or professional lives, when faced with a challenging situation, we have two choices: work together and make the most of a difficult situation or implode and fight amongst ourselves. Our kids are depending on us to not necessarily agree with each other, but find a way to maintain a consistent school schedule that allows them the opportunity to interact with their peers and teachers on a daily basis. I have no doubt our district will continue in this manner!
Questions or concerns regarding this situation should be directed to your child’s principal.
Mark B. Skertich, Ed.D.
Superintendent