Only Let Vaxxed LTHS Students Inside School: Substitute

La Grange IL

27 December, 2021

10:23 AM

Description

LA GRANGE, IL — A Lyons Teacher High School substitute teacher has an idea: Only allow in-person schooling for vaccinated students. At last week's school board meeting, Joseph Yount, who recently suspended his status with the school as coronavirus cases surged, said the board has the authority to find effective ways to encourage students to comply with safe health practices. He suggested banning unvaccinated students from attending school in person. Instead, Yount, a retired clinical psychologist living in La Grange, said families and students who refuse vaccinations can engage in "enhanced" remote learning. He said only vaccinated students should be allowed to take part in sports and extracurricular activities. "If you have been afraid that some ideas are drastic and controversial, think again," Yount said during the public comment period. "I believe that members of our community are accountable for the consequences of their choices. With freedom comes responsibility. This is one of the finest lessons that any student could learn in high school. I learned it several times myself." Like other schools, the number of coronavirus cases has increased dramatically in recent weeks at Lyons Township High. Last week, the school reported 57 new cases among students and a dozen among staff. The week before that, the school saw 42 new cases among students and four among staff. During a speech to the school board, Andrew Johannes, president of the Lyons Township Education Association, said the union was concerned with the big increase in coronavirus cases at the school. The union, he said, strongly encouraged everyone to become vaccinated, get booster shots and wear masks. "We oppose anti-science aggression that has resulted in the continuation of this pandemic," Johannes said. "We can only fight this as a community and working together, so we ask for everyone's help." Superintendent Brian Waterman also encouraged everyone to get vaccinated. Nearly 60 percent of the school's students and more than 90 percent of staff are vaccinated. Last week, Waterman said the school district remained committed to in-person learning. At the board meeting, no one besides Yount suggested keeping unvaccinated students from attending in person.