Syracuse school employee sent anti-mask text message to entire school

Syracuse, New York – A Syracuse City School District employee used the district’s taxpayer-funded communication system to send an anti-mask message to families.

According to a parent who received the message, the message was sent shortly before 10 p.m. on Wednesday. Families at the Edward Smith School received the message, Superintendent Jaime Alicea said.

The employee claimed masks were not helpful in stopping the spread of COVID-19 and restrict children’s oxygen intake in the message. In the message, he claimed children do not carry, spread, or become critically sick from COVID-19, which has been proven false.

According to a district spokesperson, an internal investigation began as soon as the district learned about the message.

He added that law enforcement is not currently investigating.

In a statement, Alicea called the information in the text message “inaccurate.”

“The information that was shared with our families at Ed Smith by a former employee was inaccurate, inappropriate and in no way reflects the beliefs we have in the Syracuse City School District,” Alicea said. “The policies, procedures, and mitigation strategies that we have implemented related to COVID-19 have always included the wearing of masks in all of our school buildings by everyone. These are not only the beliefs we follow but also the guidance we have received from the Center for Disease Control, New York State Health Department, Onondaga County Health Department, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. It is unfortunate that someone would espouse their personal beliefs to our families but again it does not represent what we as a district believe.”