No Mask, No Meeting, East Cobb 6th Graders Tell School Board

EAST COBB, GA — Three sixth graders at Mt. Bethel Elementary School who won an innovation prize are declining to be recognized by the Cobb County Board of Education and Superintendent Chris Ragsdale after the board declined to wear masks in their presence.

According to a report in the Cobb County Courier, Dylan Merrill, Zoe Diaz, and Mia Rhea created blueprints for an app that could scan items to find out if they are recyclable or not. The blueprints won first in its division in a state competition, and advanced to a national competition.

The Board invited them to be recognized and take a picture with the superintendent, and parents asked that everyone wear masks because two of the girls are too young to be vaccinated, according to the Courier. They received an email reiterating that while masks are encouraged, they remain optional.

“We are beyond frustrated and disheartened that the majority of board members could not agree to put on a mask for the five minute photo op with these kids who cannot be vaccinated,” Kerrill Merrill, mother of Dylan Merill, told the Courier in an email.

Read the full article at the cobbcountycourier.com.