RIVER FALLS – River Falls School Board member Mike Thompson resigned suddenly last week from the board of education.

The board held a special meeting Tuesday, June 8 to officially accept the resignation.

In a resignation letter addressed to his fellow board members, Thompson detailed the reasons for his resignation: Mainly, the board’s actions in voting to make masks optional for River Falls School District staff and students.

The letter states: “The board actions last week violate two important principles that cross a line for me. We passed a motion whose actions contradict the clear and consistent guidance from all levels of authorities and experts, and we allowed angry-mob tactics to drive the decision.

“The fact that I don’t agree with the decision is not problematic for me, we’ve had plenty of those and I’ve respectfully supported them as a member of the board. For me, there are two important principles in play with last week’s actions.

“One, we set a precedent (I think a dangerous precedent) that it’s OK to dismiss the body of knowledge and clear guidance from the most educated experts on the topic at hand. As a school board with education at the center of our mission, that is a significant disconnect to me.

“And two, regardless of why several votes were changed, three days after the vocal minority repeatedly disrespected our district rules (by not wearing masks at several meetings), disrupted our meeting and screamed obscenities and personal insults to our faces, we handed them exactly what they wanted. Given the success of their angry mob tactics, they will levy the same tactics with even more vigor next time. Our actions send a message to our students and community that this is an acceptable and effective tactic for getting one’s way. Even though we will obviously say it’s not, we just demonstrated that it works. The adage, ‘actions speak louder than words,’ is certainly at play here.”

Thompson also said in his letter that local organizations look to the school board for leadership, including area churches.

“In this case the pastor had just sent a strong letter to the congregants reinforcing the importance of masks in part because we were following that guidance from the experts. The next day, our decision was viewed as capitulation to tactics of angry parents and put the leadership of that church in a difficult position. While that may not be our direct responsibility, it speaks to the important broader responsibility and influence the school board has with our community.

“We all want the pandemic to end and I believe we are in the home stretch. Thanks, in part, to our previous mitigation actions, our numbers are low. Achieving a ‘safe’ transmission level based on the scientific models we’ve been referencing throughout this pandemic could happen as soon as this week. I continue to encourage you to heed the advice of the experts who are best equipped to guide us out of this with prudence to minimizing risk of a recurrence that would extend this saga even longer.”

Thompson took office in April 2019 and was set to end April 25, 2022.

School Board President Stacy Johnson Myers said Thompson was a strong board colleague.

“He served the district with distinction,” Johnson Myers said via email. “I will miss working with him and hearing his perspectives.”

For those wishing to be considered to fill the board vacancy, they should send a completed school board applicant questionnaire with required letters of recommendation no later than 3 p.m. Thursday, June 24 to: River Falls School Board 852 E. Division St.

River Falls, WI 54022 Questionnaires can be requested by phone (715-425-1800) or by email ([email protected]). They can also be picked up at the district administrative office. Candidates must live in the River Falls School District and meet all legal requirements for holding elected office.

The school board will hold a special meeting on Monday, June 28 to interview candidates to fill the vacancy until April 25, 2022.