Unintended consequences

by DAWN WOLFSON, Cameron Park

Due to the recent school board decisions not to enforce the state’s mask mandate, teachers have been caught in the crossfire. These decisions were presumably made because of the recent protests, some of which went way too far — filming illegally on campus, haranguing the principal of Buckeye Elementary School on video about his raise, harassing him and his family at their home, and even confronting some students who were wearing masks (so much for being in favor of mask choice).

Teachers, who were given practically no notice, had to figure out how to deal with the change. One, who chose to support the state guideline, was removed from the classroom. Another, caught on an illegal video made by a student that went viral (shared by the same people who were protesting at the Buckeye principal’s house), has been doxxed and is receiving death threats for doing her job. Another, who has a 90-year-old parent at home, is considering whether keeping her job is worth the risk.

Meanwhile, a member of one of the boards that voted not to enforce the mandate actually made a $500 donation to the family who has been harassing Buckeye school all these months. I guess we’re living in bizarro world after all.

I would just like to ask our school board members, as a parent whose children went through the Buckeye and EDUHSD districts, to think about the downstream consequences of your decisions, not only on parents and students, but on teachers as well.

We have some wonderful teachers. Without Mrs. Tuller at Oak Ridge and Mr. Baginski at Ponderosa, my special needs child might not have graduated. My girls spoke very highly of Mrs. Madsen, Mrs. Rhyan, Mr. Lealos and many others including Coach Rhyan for wrestling, Mr. Varoff for band — and that’s just the high schools.

By listening to a small, loud and, frankly, obnoxious bunch of people, you board members have thrown our teachers under the bus. Every school board in our district has openings in the upcoming November election. I encourage civic-minded people who care about our schools, our teachers and education to consider stepping up and running for a school board.