School board votes 5-3 in favor of keeping students in mask until end of school year

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)-  Dozens of parents chanted outside the school board meeting to make masks optional for their kids in school.

“We parents of Hamilton demand a vote today to end this mask BS today,” said Larissa Robinson.

That vote failed 5 to 3 and will require kids to wear mask for the last 9 days of school.

Some parents claimed masks don’t do anything to prevent COVID and it hurts kids from being able to breathe.

“Because the masks don’t work, they don’t do nothing. They don’t stop the spread of Covid, you still get covid with a mask on. Children is less than 10%. There are studies in the UK and Australia show that it’s less than 10% of students student transfer,” said Robinson.

Justin Wilkins said he wants kids to wear masks until they can be fully vaccinated. He says his kids hate wearing masks but, until enough people can be vaccinated they feel it’s the right thing to do.

“My kids don’t like wearing their masks either but they understand that wearing the mask and the requirements aren’t some infringement on their liberties destroying America. They are there to protect their classmate who may be vulnerable or have an immune condition,” said Justin Wilkins.

School board members Rhonda Thurman, Joe Smith, and Steve Highlander voted to make mask optional.