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Lake Forest School District 115 meetings moved to all-virtual after group of parents refused to wear masks at live meetings

A heated debate over mask policies in schools led to a postponement of a recent Lake Forest High School District 115 board meetings, a temporary move to them being held online-only, and officials now uncertain on how future meetings will occur.

On Sept. 13, a large crowd appeared at the District 115 school board meeting, with many people questioning the board’s decision to comply with the state’s indoor mask mandate announced in late August, according to video of the meeting proceedings.

School board President Jenny Zinser started the meeting by telling audience members that everyone needed to put their mask on over their nose.

“It is the governor’s mandate and we are required to follow it when we are in this building,” Zinser said.

After conducting other business, the board moved to the public comment portion of the meeting, a little more than an hour into the meeting. A group of individuals then took the podium, and mostly questioned the school district’s mask policy.

The speakers included Taylor Cottam, who ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the board of Lake Forest School District 67 – the SD115 feeder elementary school district – in last spring’s municipal elections.

He said he was organizing a homeschooling effort for parents who do not like the mask policy, believing virtual learning was beneficial.

“I am not going to allow my children to come here and be under these policies,” Cottam said.

Jeff Giannelli, who was defeated in a bid for the District 115 board last spring, also spoke. He said he stood for the residents who did not vote for the present school board.

“The overreach that is happening in this country, the overreach that is happening from Springfield is in your hands,” Giannelli said.

The meeting was halted approximately 30 minutes into the public comment, when one person spoke at the podium and was repeatedly asked to wear a mask. The speaker continued, prompting Zinser to call for a recess of the meeting. The board gave unanimous support for the pause.

Roughly 20 minutes later, with what appeared to be a much smaller audience, public comment continued and another person came to the podium and refused the board’s request to put on a mask.

Zinser moved again to stop the meeting but this time to continue it to Sept. 16. Again, the board supported her decision.

On Sept. 16, with the board meeting held completely virtually, Zinser addressed the situation at the start of the meeting.

“Due to the refusal of certain members of the public to comply with the state’s mask mandates and insistence the behavior will continue despite the health risks to themselves and their fellow community members, I have determined an in-person meeting will create a health hazard for participants at the meeting and perpetuate the health crisis,” she said.

No one from the public asked to speak during the Sept. 16 meeting.

Zinser said the board would continue to evaluate board meeting location on an ongoing basis.

The next SD115 board meeting is scheduled for Oct. 5, with Zinser saying she hopes it can take place in the Lake Forest High School west campus board room.

Appearing before the Lake Forest City Council Sept. 20 on an unrelated subject, District 115 Superintendent Matthew Montgomery addressed the events of the previous school board meetings after they were referenced by Alderman James “Jed” Morris.

“It is a challenging time right now,” Montgomery said. “There are many passionate individuals in these communities, and it is important we hear from everybody.”

Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelancer.