Wake GOP looks at censuring school board members over masks

Wake County Republican Party leaders plan to meet Monday evening to discuss a potential censure for two GOP school board members who voted last week to require masks in county schools.

"As I’m sure you are aware, the recent school board vote concerning the mask requirement for the upcoming school year was extremely controversial," party vice chair Mark Cavaliero told board members Karen Carter and Roxie Cash in an email. "Many of our party members are disappointed and angry, and are calling for us to issue a formal censure in the matter."

The email invites the two board members to explain themselves in a Monday evening zoom call with the Wake GOP Executive Committee, which will also meet in person at party headquarters. If they can't participate, Cavaliero's email says, they can send written statements.

"After our discussion, we expect a motion to be made for censure, so having all the relevant information will help ensure our members are fully informed," Cavaliero wrote.

Carter told WRAL News in an email that her vote "was about keeping students in schools and their classrooms to learn, thrive, and socialize with their friends, teachers, and staff - as I promised I would do during my campaign." She said the superintendent would review the mask mandate at least every quarter for possible reconsideration.

Carter said her votes are "guided by what is best for our students, never by what a political party or special interest group demands."

Cash said she stands by her vote "because it will provide more assurance to keep children in the classroom."

"My vote is for in person learning for as much as possible," she said in an email. "It is not politics or science but quarantine mandates that influence my vote for masking in schools."

"None of us wants to close schools to in-person learning," Cooper wrote.

In addition to the political pressure, Wake school board members have been threatened with a lawsuit. The Carolina Teachers Alliance, a right-leaning advocacy group that spearheaded a petition drive ahead of the mask vote, says on its petition page that it's raising money to file suit against board members "OVER THEIR TYRANICAL MANDATES THAT HARM CHILDREN."

It says the lawsuits will be mailed to individual school board members, then lists their home addresses.

​The lawsuit donation page indicates that the effort has raised nearly $4,800 of an initial $10,000 goal and says the suit will be handled by attorney Matthew Ceradini, who said Friday that the process was in the planning stage.

The donation page also puts out a call for potential plaintiffs to be part of the suit.​