Worried about state regulations
CHENEY – As reports COVID cases increase, the effect that could have on local schools has parents concerned.
According to the state Department of Health, statistics show that 4%t of hospitalizations between Sept. 24-30 were COVID-related.
This has some people questioning what will happen.
Teresa Laher shared some thoughts during the Sept. 27 School Board meeting.
Laher said she and her family are worried that restrictions may cause more harm than good.
“We have a son who is a senior at Cheney High School. We’ve attended and supported Cheney Schools since he was in primary school,” Laher said. “I recently retired after having a 30-year career in public education as a teacher and an administrator. This was my life’s work.”
Laher said she has heard discussions of reinstating COVID restrictions and she doesn’t want to see another lockdown or mask mandate.
“This may or may not happen,” Laher said. “It’s a slippery slope when people lose their freedoms, and it will always cost something.
“Furthermore, I can’t be silent for something that may be coming our way.”
Laher told the School Board she thinks the isolation during the pandemic was very harmful to the mental health of students.
She reminded board members about the masks, plastic barriers and that there were restrictions about something as simple as spacing.
According to Laher, that was more harmful than productive.
“My own son missed 14 days of learning due to following the quarantine guidelines,” Laher said. “He was never sick. He missed 14 days of learning.
“We know what the stats say about missed school. This is why we have mandatory attendance laws.”
Laher said her son missed out on athletic and social opportunities as well, and she said this led to a lot of mental issues.
“Beyond my own child, I know many families who saw their kids dive into dark depression, high anxiety, and yes, several families who dealt with suicide ideation in their child and a few who lost children to suicide,” Laher said. “I know because I walked up close and personal with these families as a public-school administrator.
“Taking away their freedoms was costly.”
According to Laher, further dialogue regarding mask mandating and student isolation should be questioned.
“We once embraced ‘not questioning’ the health department or even the governor,” Laher said. “Enough information has transpired in the last while that clearly showed we were misled.
“God forbid these mandates come back. But if they do, please remember, taking away freedoms will be at a cost.
“I would hope we wouldn’t shy away from these courageous albeit difficult conversations. I don’t want to see our children suffer anymore.”
According to Cheney Public Schools Superintendent Ben Ferney there are not any potential state regulations in the works that would require masking or testing for potential COVID-19 outbreaks.
Matthew graduated from West Virginia University-Parkersburg in 2011 with a journalism degree. He's an award-winning photographer and enjoys writing stories about people.
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