MLG and her Department of Education Suspend Floyd School Board for Defying State Orders on Masks
TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES – Today, Rebecca Dow released a statement of support for New Mexico Schools to decide their own COVID protocol after the New Mexico Public Education Department, under the leadership of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, suspended the entire five-member Floyd School Board because they did not reverse their decision to reject state leadership's blanket school mask mandate and let parents decide whether or not they send their children to school in masks.
Dow gave the following statement in response:
"One size NEVER fits all! This is a perfect example of why local decision making is the only way to move New Mexico education forward.
"From day one, Floyd has been able to meet all CDC guidance for social distancing. The average class size is 12 students.
"All research indicates that parents are the number one indicator of student success. No one cares more about a child's health and educational outcomes than their parents. Anyone who would suggest that it's MLG or the government's job needs a reality check.
"School boards are elected by local voters. They are close to the community and are accountable to parents for their actions. The science is clear-- when parents have a say in their child's health and education they are more engaged. Engaged parents raise students who succeed in school and life!
"Studies show children are at extremely slim risk of dying from Covid-19, according to some of the most comprehensive studies to date, which indicate the threat might be even lower than previously thought. Some 99.995% of the 469,982 children included in a recent study who were infected survived. Among the 61 child deaths linked to a positive Covid-19 test, 25 were actually caused by the illness, the study found.
"Yet communities like Farmington NM, where not a single child death is reported due to contracting COVID, report 10 child deaths due to suicide. The community and families of the deceased children attribute depression and hopelessness caused by government regulations issued during COVID to be the cause of the suicides.
"Of course the Governor dismisses these claims as conjecture from communities and families. DOH hasn't confirmed a connection, therefore it's just another youth suicide in New Mexico.
"Meanwhile 43 states are allowing local school boards and/or parents to decide what CDC guidance to follow at school.
"Floyd School district isn't stopping anyone from being vaccinated, social distancing, or wearing a mask. They are simply letting parents take the lead in their child's health decisions. After all, Floyd is only a few miles from the Texas border. Parents from Floyd are observing the children of their family and friends one state over safely attend school without mask mandates.
"Our Governor and big government have failed our state, and MLG's policies have proven ineffective. She's more focused on following the radical left's agenda-- taking away liberties and hurting our children's future and health-- than moving the state forward in any meaningful way.
"We need to return to common sense and solve our problems the New Mexican way— not by following other states led by out-of-touch radicals whose methods have already been a failure and harmful to children!"