A protest against the current Dunklin R-5 School District mask mandate started with a single student Jan. 28 and mushroomed to dozens of people by Monday morning.
At least 12 adults and another 50 to 60 students gathered Monday along Joachim Avenue near Herculaneum High School to protest the mask mandate that went into effect Jan. 24.
That mandate was put in place after the district turned to remote learning Jan. 19-21 because of a shortage of bus drivers and teachers who were ill or quarantined due to COVID-19.
When in-person classes resumed Jan. 24, students were required to wear masks when they could not maintain social distancing, Superintendent Clint Freeman said.
Herculaneum High senior Tristan Watson, 18, said district officials approached him about his refusal to wear a mask on Jan. 26 and the next day told him he would be arrested for trespassing if he attempted to return to the school on Jan. 28 without a mask.
“They (administrators) said I was not being punished,” Watson said during Monday’s protest. “They said if I go back in the building without a mask I would be arrested.”
He refuted a rumor, though, that the district had him arrested Jan. 28. He said he was told to leave the school and since a Dunklin school police officer was not available at the time, district officials arranged for Herculaneum Police to give him a ride home, and some people mistakenly assumed he had been arrested.
Watson said he wore a mask during the 2021-2022 school year when it was mandated, but he does not wish to do it again.
“I have not worn one (since the new mandate was implemented Jan. 24),” he said.
Watson protested by himself Jan. 28 outside the Dunklin R-5 Central Office, but many others who shared his views on the matter joined him on Monday. Among them was Ann Moloney of Barnhart, a district resident who said she plans to run for public office, partly spurred by the mask mandate issue.
“I’m going to run for 114th District state representative because of the mask issue,” Moloney said. “It’s against our rights.”
She said she has a great stake in the Dunklin R-5 School District.
“I have eight children who have gone through Dunklin schools,” Moloney said. “The last one is scheduled to graduate in 2023.”
Mac Waddell, 15, a freshman who joined the protest, said he does not like how the rule was being enforced.
“This started with Tristan,” he said. “It’s affecting his education. There are other people not wearing masks.”
District officials, aware of the protest on Monday, allowed students to participate in it for 45 minutes, from approximately 11:15 a.m. to noon.
Joe Willis, the district’s assistant superintendent, said the administration decided to allow students to participate as a safety measure, as well as an academic exercise.
“It’s an opportunity to learn,” he said. “They’re having their voices heard.”
Watson, who has not attended classes since Jan. 28, said he did not know what his next move would be, but he wants to discuss the matter with Freeman.
“Right now, I’d say the plan is to find a chance to talk to the administration and figure something out,” he said.
Freeman said he is willing to speak with Watson, but added that Watson already has options to continue his learning without going to the high school building and wearing a mask.
He said the district offers virtual learning, and the state LAUNCH virtual learning program is also available.
Mike Watson, Tristan’s father, said the family is opposed to virtual learning and his son will not return to school until he can attend classes without a mask.
“(Virtual learning) is a sham,” Mike Watson said. “There’s no instruction. It takes him 10 to 15 minutes to complete his work for a full day. It’s not at all an equal education.
“We hope they’ll call a special meeting of the school board to get this thing (mask mandate) changed.”
Matt Lichtenstein, the district’s communications director, said the Board of Education’s next scheduled meeting is Feb. 15, when the mask mandate likely will be discussed as part of the board’s monthly COVID-19 response plan.
Mike Watson said that Tristan was not in school on Tuesday and instead had traveled to Jefferson City.
“State Rep. Mary Elizabeth Coleman wants to recognize him during the (legislative) session,” Mike Watson said.