September 15, 2020 | by
“A Middle TN family is suing their son’s school district over a mask mandate. A judge’s ruling could impact every student in the state.”
“Nico Sanfilippo entered his freshman year at Raider Academy in Manchester wanting to keep his honor roll average and play football.
He just didn’t want to wear a mask doing it.
“He can’t concentrate and doesn’t like it,” said Heather Murchison, Sanfilippo’s mother.
So when Sanfilippo showed up for school, Murchison said he was placed in in-school suspension.
Murchison said she tried to get a doctor’s note, citing her son’s anxiety, but said she spoke with six physicians who said they wouldn’t provide the note for political reasons.
Murchison then decided to sue.
Murchison claims in the suit that only parents, not school officials, can make health decision for students.
“No, absolutely not. I’m looking at my child as his mother and he says I don’t feel good Mom. And I said, OK, let me move mountains,” said Murchison.
The lawsuit states that the board’s mandates are beyond the authority granted to them by the General Assembly.
“Have people asked you ‘Look, this is all about protecting other students, why are you taking it to this extreme level. And how have you responded?’” asked News4 Investigates.
“Yes, people have said, ‘why aren’t you protecting other people?’ And I said I am protecting people. I am protecting so many people. I’m protecting your rights,” Murchison said.”