Stanly school board Chair Jeff Chance resigns

Board votes to keep mask mandate in place

ALBEMARLE — At the Oct. 5, 2021, Stanly County Board of Education meeting, Chairman Jeff Chance announced his resignation, after months of battling over mask mandates in the district’s schools, saying at the end of the meeting, “At this time, I hereby resign from the board of education, effective immediately.”

During the meeting, board member Anthony Graves offered an amendment that would make masks optional in the district, but, despite getting a second for the motion, it was ultimately voted down. The board instead voted to maintain mandatory masking, but members said the numbers were coming down quickly and were hopeful the mandate wouldn’t be in place much longer.

Parents and other community members, meanwhile, were outside the meeting making their voices heard. In one video being shared on social media, a protester said to a departing Chance, “Jeff Chance — it’s time for you to resign, bud,” to which Chance replied, “Just did, bud.”

Chance said during the meeting that he had been receiving death threats, adding, “And I take it seriously.”

Stay tuned for updates…