The @pauldingboe public meeting begins in a few minutes. I'll be using this thread to live tweet it & offer citations, fact checks, etc. You can view the livestream of the meeting on YouTube here:

Early note: The link to the meeting agenda, which was available as I was writing the above tweet has now been removed. Perhaps there are some late breaking changes to it.

No votes taken in executive session. Opening now with invocation and pledge.

Fuller is now explaining public participation is limited to 30 minutes but willing to make a motion to extend. They have 9 speakers & 2 more who have a "non-agenda" item.

The man up 1st mentions "media bashing," thanking the BOE, and emphasizing f2f was a choice. Back in June. Grateful that his kindergarten student can experience school in person. He believes his children cannot succeed unless they are f2f. Also claiming teachers "chose" to do f2f

He is now advocating prayer & saying the BOE decisions up to this point are "wise" and led by God. Again emphasizing that teachers & parents "chose" to be f2f. Me: Not sure about that assumption about teachers.

Next up is a woman (not going to use names in these) who is a teacher. Says teachers are too scared to speak up, so she's speaking here. Goal: to be in the classroom w/students *safely* & says teachers were *not* given a choice.

Says it wasn't a choice for them. Teachers were *not* surveyed or given a seat at the table. She is bringing passion to this. She wants masks, cleaning, distancing. Safety. Reiterates teachers are *scared*. EG: Teacher who has a daughter who was hospitalized & is afraid...

Afraid of bringing COVID home. She too has concerns of bringing it home. Told students her situation & asked them to wear masks. 6 out 80 wore masks. Some students made fun of her for wearing a mask.

Discussing what teachers were promised & failures thus far. No education about masking, health measures. Signage lacking. Their disinfectants are not what they were promised & some teachers were told cleaning was optional. Notes they have the RIGHT to mandate masks.

Next up, another woman talking about masking. Discussing the ways in which public health is addressed in schools. She uses a slur to refer to COVID-19 I won't repeat. Fact Check: She is using OLD data to claim no deaths amongst children. Not true. A 7 year old died in GA recently

Also she is unaware that almost 100,000 kids have been diagnosed in last two weeks. She's now asking for studies about health ramifications of masking. She wants us to show them the studies. Yes we can! I will provide them at the end of this thread. LOTS of data.

Wants to know evidence of substantial or primary source of children as outbreak sources. EG: This CDC report she doesn't know about regarding the YMCA camp. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6931e1.htm

She gave a long list of questions, and also is concerned about children using masks as "weapons"? Alrighty. Will provide sources for masks afterwards. Next up, another woman concerned about communications of board w/community.

She wants more than words or re-reading "the plan." She wants proof -- documentation -- that the boy & schools are actually implementing the plan & following it. Doing what they said they would do. What messages they send. Nails Fuller for not wearing a mask at the meeting &

She nails Fuller for the message he sends by not wearing a mask. Also for ignoring the recommendations & guidelines from the CDC, Pediatric Assoc., etc. They need to do better.

Next speaker -- long time Co. resident, educator & parent of student. Notes she has repeatedly voiced concerns. 1. Cleaning & provided cleaner: Inconsistent & not following what they said they Ould do. Rooms, desks, etc. not being cleaned & the cleaner is a problem. Not Virex (?)

The cleaner is not what they promised & the county did not share per OSHA rules. It's an industrial cleaner that requires protective equipment & caused an asthma attack.

Technology problems: School did not supply computers w/cameras or mics. So, teachers have to use their own personal equipment *at school* & given no training. Also, they weren't allowed to work from home so had to bring their own kids to school along w/their own technology.

Social distancing: Classes of 30. No social distancing plan. No way to do so. No effort went into developing a hybrid schedule to reduce the crowding. None. By actions, it's clear, "safety does not seem to be a priority at all."

Gentleman up now notes Kemp yesterday said they *can* do masks & others have. So, they could & would be in good co.
68/100 have mask mandates for teachers; 43 require masks for both teachers/students; USG requires masks for all.

Notes Etowah is already shut down. Calls Fuller out fo his desire for "normal" and his reference to CDC guidelines as "crap." Notes closings & dangers even amongst professional athletes who are having long term damage. Asks what's going to happen & costs -- monetary & otherwise.

He correctly notes that the "choice" is not so much a choice when people must work or lose their jobs. Asks why the district hasn't been communicating about COVID & even trying to silence negative speech about their actions. Students *have to* attend schools, so he wants masks.

Fuller says the 30 minutes are up & willing to move to extend the time but first wants to confirm the 2 late breaking speakers are about agenda. Nope. So he's only going to let the 3 remaining to speak. Time extended.

Next up a 2014 graduate of a Paulding HS. Petition to cancel f2f & move online. Now knows of many who, like her, thing the SD has *not* adequately prepared for f2f instruction. Rightly notes, w/out media, parents, residents, etc. would never have known what was happening.

Notes the images she's seeing online look same as when she ws in school. No changes visible. Notes the musical chair discussion, the crap reference, and more. Points to GaDPH guidelines & says if the guidelines of *experts* can't be followed then shouldn't be f2f

Highlights these are *experts* -- not political. Also points out the waitlist for virtual learning is too long & problematic. In person instruction is not safe. Corrects previous slur regarding name of virus. Points out, danger is NOT just to kids but also families & community

Highlights THEIR responsibility to the community. Now a woman is yelling at her bc she doesn't have kids in school. NOTE: That is NOT a requirement to speak.

Sophomore at high school now speaking. Proud of f2f & happy to be back at school first 3 days, but reminded of how quickly it could be taken away now they are online. She is concerned about lack of ability to socialize & mental health. She doesn't want to be forced...

Doesn't want to be forced to go online. Wants to make her own decision about whether to be in person. Next up, another woman thanking BOE for "the bold plan." Says leaders stay w/their plan. Emphasizing "choice" again. Says Sweden has zero death. NOPE.

Also says only N95s & 3 layer cotton masks are effective. Again, INCORRECT. Claims no studies showing otherwise. INCORRECT. That's the end of the public comments.

Superintendent now speaking & referencing the choice aspect again for a decision they made in JUNE. Noting some students are going all virtual right now. Has not yet acknowledged that people who want their kids virtual NOW cannot do so.

Ah, now says they're in the process of communicating w/parents who are on the waitlist. Acknowledges tech adjustments need to be made, crowded hallways. Says tomorrow will be re-releasing North Paulding reopening plan w/changes & on Friday moving to Cherokee model of disclosing

Clarifying what they do when positives identified. 1 positive case of COVID-9 at elem level whole class will be quarantined. At MS & HS level, though, will just be doing "close contacts." Interesting -- he says school staff is doing the contact tracing, not GDPH.

Okay they've now moved into other matters (recognitions etc). Going to take a minute to review thread then start gathering links to provide for those parents apparently unaware of the science, the deaths in Sweden, masking, etc.

Board member comments...Mr. Dean: talked w/old friend about how to approach topic. Masks are "a divided issue in our schools... a community effort ... we have to work together to solve this..." "We need better communications... and cleanliness is mandatory... we didn't know...

"didn't know what to expect... we need to pull together as a community ... get ideas... roundtables... this is not a school board problem; this is community problem." Me: YES.

Glen Albright: Statements from history he wants people to remember: "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself ... not trying to belittle speakers ... but several speakers that came up ... shared their fears... but understand that as a community board... leaders...we can't

"We can't make decisions based on fear." Says they have to use "courage." (Me: Not science) He wants to "move forward" "back to normal" "No matter what faces us" (EG, Me: No matter if what we face is death. Now he's using JFK quote -- ask not... etc. Apparently, he wants courage

He wants courage and *seems* to be suggesting "normal" and "courage" and the "plan put in place" previously are most important. "So far nothing has happened that hasn't been anticipated ... or we haven't accounted for... and know that everything is going to work out *fine*"
Wow

Not sure how he defines "fine," given that longterm health damages or death seem less than "fine." But, Mr. Albright seems to think all is well.

Fuller now addressing his previous comments & apologizes for "my comment could have been harsh" (for calling the reasonable CDC guidelines "crap." Says his kids are "loving" being in school, he's not good at online learning, he agrees with Albright, he's glad people turned out.

Adjourning now (Fuller did not address any of his other comments etc.)

Folks, the full video of the meeting is available now in the link opening this thread. I want to rewatch the video for accurate pull quotes to address. Once I have a list, I’ll add the articles, studies, GaDPH info, masking studies, evidence kids transmit, Swedish deaths, etc.