Mask issue divides district

The Cedar Grove-Belgium School Board meeting was moved from the high school study hall to the gym last week to accommodate more than 50 community members and students who wanted to speak.

The bulk of the group advocated for eliminating the requirement that students and staff members wear masks at school. One student and a few staff members spoke in favor of keeping the requirement, Supt. Chad Brakke said.

“I have also received emails from parents both in favor of keeping the mask requirement and getting rid of it. It is a very divisive issue and people have strong opinions on both sides of the argument,” Brakke said.

In his monthly report to the board, Brakke said he wanted to get through this week to see if there was a spike in Covid-19 cases due to spring break.

He proposed putting the item on the board’s April 28 meeting.