The group, which has more than 5,000 followers online, invited its members to come out Monday in support the group’s mission to “give children and parents the choice to wear masks in school.”

‘Mask Choice’ rally

The rally, which eventually ballooned to between 80 and 100 people, was led by Tana Goertz, a one-time contestant on the TV show “The Apprentice” who describes herself as a “business consultant” and “President Trump hype girl.”

Goertz took on the role of public spokesperson for Mask Choice 4 Kids last week after the group’s 19-year-old founder, Jacob Cleary, announced he was stepping aside from his leadership position.

Cleary’s father, Brian Cleary, resigned last week from Overland Park-based Krucial Staffing, which sends traveling nurses to areas of the U.S. hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.

It’s unclear what, if any, role Brian Cleary has with Mask Choice 4 Kids, but he posted a comment on a private Facebook group urging people to turn out for Monday’s rally outside the board of education meeting.

During the rally, Goertz discussed the groups mission, and how this group “has the guts” to stand up to the majority who is in favor of mask-wearing.

“This is a community of like-minded adults, young adults, children, parents, grandparents, teachers, administrators” Goertz added.

Supporters of mask rules turn out, too

While the discussion over masking began outside the district office, it continued inside during the board meeting.

Nineteen people were able to speak during the meeting’s regular hour-long public comments period.

All who spoke addressed the topic of masks being required throughout the district, and most were in favor of keeping it in place.

“There’s only been 144 cases this year spread out over all those school buildings,” said Greg Williams, who has a fifth grader at Prairie Star Elementary School. “That is an incredible number.”

The district’s COVID-19 dashboard shows of those 144 cases, 122 have been in students. That represents roughly .04% of Blue Valley’s total student population.

Those who spoke in favor of the masking requirement Monday said not only have masks kept the number of COVID cases down, but it is also allows children the opportunity to remain in school learning in person.

“My son has said quote, ‘I don’t care if I have to wear a mask as long as I don’t have to do school at home with you,'” another Blue Valley Parent joked during her three minute time to address the board.

Democratic state Sen. Cindy Holscher of Overland Park was the final speaker Monday.

She also showed her support for keeping the mask mandate in place for the district by saying they were necessary to wear for the good of the community.

Four speakers did call for making masks optional. They raised concerns about masks’ potential impact on children’s health and behavioral development.

“It’s important to see the whole picture of facial expressions,” Deana Lesher, an occupational therapists and owner of Pediatric Connections, said.

Lesher argued kids need to see one another’s expressions for the good of their mental health and in order to have healthy social interactions.

Those who opposed the current mandate also said not all kids in the district “are doing okay” with wearing masks, so parents should be able to decide if it is best for their child to wear one or not.

The board made no changes to the current mandate, nor addressed the speakers beyond saying notes were taken during the open form.