Naperville School District 203 Board President Kristin Fitzgerald refused to start a Monday board meeting until a crowd of hundreds--- gathered to speak out against her policy of masking students in class-- all put masks on themselves.
Wearing an N-95 mask snugly over her nose and mouth, supported by a band over her ears, Fitzgerald opened the meeting by admonishing the crowd for not having their masks on properly. She then delayed the meeting for ten minutes as punishment to "allow those members (of the audience) to come into (mask) compliance."
"Naperville 203 requires the indoor use of masks by students, staff and visitors regardless of vaccination status," she said, repeatedly. "We require that all individuals in Naperville 203 buildings and facilities including students, staff, teachers and visitors comply with the governor's indoor face covering or mask mandate. The mask must be worn over your nose and mouth. If you need a mask, one can be provided for you. The board will not begin our meeting until the audience complies with the mask requirements."
"If we do not feel that we are safely able to convene the meeting, we will recess and reconvene via Zoom."
She delayed the meeting on three occasions over crowd mask "safety," for a total of 30 minutes.
Fitzgerald, 50, was first elected to the District 203 school board in 2013, then re-elected in 2017 and 2021.
She previously worked as an aide to Republican U.S. Reps. Harris Fawell and Judy Biggert, who represented DuPage County.
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