Crook County School Board adopts parental rights resolution

(Update: Adding video, comments)

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The Crook County School Board voted 4-0 Monday night to adopt a resolution supporting the parent-child relationship when it comes to education.

Last month, the board listened during a public comment period to Jack Rabenburg of Oregon Parents' Rights in Education. The group has pushed back against mask and vaccination mandates in schools.

Rabenburg presented a petition calling on the school board to proclaim November as Parents' Rights in Education Month, and hoped for the board's backing.

He said the parent-child relationship should be supported by teachers, counselors, administrators, and school board members.

Although the board did not declare November as Parent's Rights in Education Month, the adopted resolution (see below) does recognize that parents are the child's first and foremost educator, and have a moral responsibility for the education, care and training of their children.

Rabenburg was not in attendance during the vote, but he did join the meeting virtually to offer his thoughts, asking the board to take even more action to challenge the state.

"Please take a position," Rabenburg said. "Please take a stand. Parents are not domestic terrorists. We deserve to be heard. We deserve to be allowed to be involved." 

During the public comment section, a group of district moms also raised concerns regarding possible vaccine mandates for students across the state.

One parent, Mandi Puckett, says she's concerned about community members clashing over different beliefs when it comes to COVID-19.

"We now have policies that conflict and adversely affect our children, families, workers, and community members which also vary state to state," Puckett said. This has created an environment of clashing views, both in our schools and our communities, where those on the extreme side of the spectrum are empowered to shame and browbeat those who do not agree with them." 

School Board Chair Scott Cooper said he has not heard of vaccine mandates coming down the pipeline, and that Gov. Kate Brown typically follows California and Washington when it comes to mandates.

"She likes third place," Cooper said. "She's a third-place governor."

Cooper says he understand that these types of conversations are happening in the parents committee, and he appreciates their proactiveness.