“Apparently, eating the lollipop was the last straw” | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's Note: This post appears here courtesy of the John Locke Foundation. The author of this post is Donna Martinez.

    Will the Department of Justice/FBI be looking into this episode? Writing at the federalist.com, M.D. Kittle reports that a Wisconsin school board staff member called 9-1-1 to request a police officer be dispatched to the board meeting so that a board member would "feel better." An attorney representing parents was speaking at the meeting, expressing disagreement with mask and quarantine policies and the potential legal implications. Despite nothing being wrong, an officer showed up.

    Lodi School Board President Adam Steinberg grew upset because Eisberner wasn't wearing a mask. The attorney then put one on. Steinberg, according to a witness, also was concerned that Eisberner was unmasked while eating a lollipop.

    "He went up with the lollipop in his mouth and said he is eating. Therefore, a mask is not required. At this point, I was standing in the doorway and heard the board assistant call the police. Apparently, eating the lollipop was the last straw," the witness said.

    Have we lost all sense of reason?

    While this malarkey goes on, parents remain undeterred in seeking a greater role in how, what, and where their kids are educated. Call it an unintended consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents forced to look over the shoulders of their kids saw and heard things on Zoom that gave them pause. Many have never been more engaged.

    Thankfully, in North Carolina, the Republican legislative leadership continues to have parents' backs, giving them more choices. Locke's Paige Terryberry writes:

    This budget gives more parents the ability to choose the appropriate education for their child. It expands the popular Opportunity Scholarship program, which currently benefits more than 18,600 students in North Carolina. At present, families making up to 150% of the amount needed to qualify for the federal lunch program are eligible. This budget raises the eligibility for the scholarship to families making up to 175% of the amount needed to qualify for the federal lunch program. The budget also proposes to expand the funding amount per recipient, reducing the burden for low-income families.

    Tactically, the budget links per-student scholarship funding to the prior years' average state spending per pupil rather than capping the scholarship grant at $4,200. This change will result in significantly more funding per student in need.

    Excellent news for parents and for kids.