The RISD mask survey indicates widespread support by parents and teachers.
Richardson ISD will continue its universal mask protocol after hearing from parents in an opinion survey. An overwhelming majority favored requiring students, teachers and visitors in schools and district buildings to wear protective face coverings during the pandemic.
The survey was sent to current RISD parents and full-time staff members, with approximately 65% responding.
When asked if RISD should require that all persons follow the mask protocol to enter schools and buildings, 83% of parents and 77% of staff said yes. About 81% of parents in the Lake Highlands learning community said yes.
When parents were asked if they would remove their child(ren) from in-person instruction if RISD removed the mask protocol, 40% said yes. About 37% of LH parents said yes.
Dr. Jeannie Stone began the board meeting Monday night with a moment of silence to remember Sha’Niyah McGee and Eroletta Piasczyk. McGee was a junior at Berkner High and Piasczyk was a longtime teacher at Christa McAuliffe Learning Center before both died last week of COVID-19.
Trustees voted to officially accept the resignation of board president Karen Clardy, who resigned Sept. 24. Although Clardy did not publicly give a reason for her departure, education observers have seen her come under increasingly frequent personal attack from district critics during previous meetings and on social media. Many of the same critics have called for Dr. Stone to resign or be fired.
Clardy represented single member District 5, which surrounds Lake Highlands High School. At the Oct. 18 board meeting, trustees will decide whether to appoint a temporary replacement or hold Clardy’s seat open until the election in May of 2022.
You may watch a video of Monday night’s school board meeting here.
