Many people are trying to understand how they made their initial decision to allow optional masking. Their first attempt was during a special meeting in June, but attorney Pat Smathers counseled them that action would defy state law. So, they waited for the law to expire. 

I attended the July 27 meeting when Dr. Mark Jaben and Sarah Henderson clearly outlined the risks of optional masking. They said:

• The Delta variant is highly contagious — more than twice as contagious as previous variants. 

• The chances of kids carrying infection into their school are much higher than them carrying infection from school to home. 

• With optional masking, 1,000 would be quarantined within the first month. 

These points should have been sufficient justification for mandatory masking. Instead, the board chose a misguided wait-and-see approach.

By law, the board is a nonpartisan entity, so party politics should not guide their decisions, but take the following information into consideration:

Before the vote on July 27, Chairman Chuck Francis said he believes “scientific communities have fallen prey to politics.” It’s just the opposite! Due to the politicization of the virus by the GOP and the FOX network, science has been distorted and health professionals have been demonized. 

By changing his party affiliation to Republican, then appearing on the overtly partisan Fox network with board member Bobby Rogers following the July 27 board meeting, Chairman Francis has cast himself in a highly partisan mindset. Public polling validates the partisan nature of both the network and its right-wing audience. 

Finally, it’s noteworthy that board members Larry Henson and David Burnette voted against the masking plan adopted during the Aug. 21 emergency board meeting. The majority of the anti-mask speakers at the July 27 meeting reside in their districts.    

Ask yourself, who do you think has fallen prey? 

Myrna Campbell

Haywood County