Decision by 3 Richland School Board members on masks upsets Tri-City Herald letter writers
Thanks to all who stayed the course
This pandemic has been hard. I’m grateful for everyone, young and old, who has kept on keeping on in big and small ways during COVID-19. I’m thankful for the school teachers, counselors and bus drivers. I’m thankful for the Hanford workers. I’m thankful for restaurant and store workers and drivers. I respect and am thankful for the kids and teenagers who have kept going even though it was hard and things were uncertain. Thank you all for what you are doing to keep your lives and our community going, even when it’s hard. It hasn’t been easy, but we’re getting through it together
Juliet Homer, Richland
Time to recall 3 on RSD board
We are absolutely livid and incredibly concerned about the illegal action of the Richland School Board. Without consulting tens of thousands of parents and students, they made a decision that affects all of us. They not only made a bad decision affecting the health and well-being of many in the district, but did not even plan for a path forward because of the impact the decision would have on all those within the Richland School District.
We would like to call for a recall election for Semi Bird and Audra Byrd, as well as the third member of the Richland School Board who voted to make Richland School District defy the state mask order without input from the parents, the students and all of the staff within the RSD.
Derek and Valerie Bowls, Richland
Boot ignorance from RSD board
As a second generation educator and 30-year Richland School District certified state employee in Richland High School, also educating four kids and now grandkids, I must share our RHS faculty “mantra” for years — to “Stomp Out Ignorance.” It’s time now to “Stomp Out Ignorance” with in the RSD School Board, specifically 3 current RSD board members, their enablers and supporters. Furthermore, as an immunocompromised retired educator, I am totally supportive of masks, public health, science, medicine, data and facts as per Washington state law.
It’s time to “Stomp Out Ignorance” within the Richland School Board — before It mestastisizes.
Steve Piippo, Retired Educator, Richland
3 on RSD board conduct a sham
I’m disappointed in the shady tactics consistently displayed by Richland School Board members Semi Bird, Audra Byrd and Kari Williams. Recently, they allowed an unruly crowd to take over the board meeting. Rude and outrageous commenters controlled the meeting and held the community hostage in some cases for upwards of 10 minutes each, without being reminded of the regular time limit. It’s sad that the majority of them don’t know how to conduct a board meeting with professionalism and while following standards and routines.
Tuesday’s sham meeting with a clearly purposeful vague agenda was a shameful, underhanded attempt to take advantage of the serious situation our community faces. They disrespected our community, voters, taxpayers, teachers, staff,\ and most of all the students they’ve been given the privilege of working for.
It’s not too late for our school board to stand up and be the upright community members and board representatives they were elected to be.
Molly Petersen, Richland
RSD board violated law, common sense
I have voted for every Richland School levy for 42 years now, but I am rethinking my position now. The school board voted without any public hearing or notice to violate the law and common sense to not require students to wear masks. This after the passage of measures to fund the district in the recent election. The district then closed the schools for an emergency. The only emergency is the three idiots just elected to the board.
Richland has a reputation for supporting its schools and offering a fine education to its students. My two daughters graduated from Richland schools and both are doing just fine, in part because of the education they received. But with these people on the board, this will soon change. What is next on their agenda — book burning?
We need to recall the three new board members, fire the superintendent and stop being so generous with our schools.
Melvin Adams, Richland
RSD board: 3 need to resign
Richland School Board members Audra Byrd, Semi Bird and Kari Williams voted to overstep the governor’s mandate and should resign. They chose to endanger the safety, education and funding for our children, teachers and staff within the Richland School District.
Their decision to remove masks is an example of their lack of understanding about the state’s Department of Labor and Industry requirements for teachers and staff.
Their decision to vote on removing masks was not listed as part of the agenda for the school board meeting and is illegal by the established rules and regulations for school board conduct.
At Thursday night’s emergency school board meeting, none of the three accepted any personal accountability for their lack of legal understanding that created the two-day shutdown. Instead, they spoke about emotions guiding their decisions.
Their conduct and willingness to vote against state mandates and Labor and Industry requirements, combined with their willingness to act illegally with no sense of personal accountability, demonstrates the three members lack of understanding for the positions they hold. Therefore, they should resign.
Steve Germain, West Richland
Students lose in RSD board vote
The 3-2 surprise-vote by Richland School Board members, Mr. Bird, Ms. Byrd and Ms. Williams to disregard the state’s public safety mask mandate is unconscionable. Likely illegal, it was certainly unethical, seeming more about delivering on campaign rhetoric than student freedom, especially since we were anticipating an announcement by Gov. (Jay) Inslee about lifting the mandate.
How many parents/caregivers, unable to take time off or find last-minute child care, were forced to leave their children home alone? How many students missed school meals they rely upon? What about two lost days of learning, on the heels of interrupted learning after the Fred Meyer shooting?
As I write, I hear the board voted 4-1 tonight to keep masks for now. I am glad that reason prevailed. Thank you, Superintendent Redinger, for making the difficult, yet responsible, decision to close schools to protect everyone’s safety, observe state law and honor teacher contracts. Thank you, Richland teachers, for your continued courage throughout this pandemic — who, today, were lesson-planning, grading and assembling family food-baskets. Leadership requires thoughtfulness, courage and focus on equity. Tuesday’s coup-of-a-vote does not reflect leadership our students, their families, and our community deserve.
Sarah Newcomer, Richland
Feeling betrayed by board’s vote
The calculated, deceptive and illegal action of the Richland School Board majority (Semi Bird, Audra Byrd and Kari Williams) to defy the masking mandate represents the worst in politics.
It makes me wish that I had voted against the Richland school bond.
But I’m assuming that is why these three waited until after the bond had passed to make their move, which was cowardly and deceptive. Not only that, but these three thought fit to disrupt the entire school system and everyone associated with it; 1,500 employees, over 14,200 students, plus their families and support services.
Newly elected officials go through extensive training on public hearings, the purpose of which is an opportunity for citizens to provide and receive information associated with decisions. The fact that these three came prepared to bypass the public hearings law by putting forth a motion then passed by the majority without public notification tells me that they cannot be trusted with my vote.
Maya Angelou says that people will forget what you say, or what you do, but they won’t forget the way you make them feel. I’m one of thousands of registered voters who feels betrayed by this action.
Carol Moser, Richand
This story was originally published February 24, 2022 at 10:40 AM.