A WNC school district will continue its mask mandate for at least one more month. The Henderson County Public Schools board voted 6-1 to extend its mask mandate Monday evening, which requires students, staff and visitors to wear masks while inside school property. The vote came after dozens of people shared their thoughts during the public comment period. One teacher, MaryBeth Johnson, announced her resignation in front of the board during her time for public comment. Johnson said she spent eight years with the district and spent most of that time teaching first grade. "Over the past 18 months, policy changes and board decisions have infringed upon my rights," she told the board. "I no longer could stand and have a moral compass every day. Doing one thing and believing something else was the right thing to do, so I submitted my resignation," she told WYFF News 4 after the meeting. Johnson was one of many who spoke about the district's mandate Monday. "I don’t know where you are, what you have in your hearts, but each one of you will have to answer to God," said one parent. "We do not want to be in a situation in which too many teachers and staff members have fallen ill for our schools to remain open," said another parent.Adult speakers had one minute, while students had 3 minutes to make their case. Some in attendance were asked to leave the building because they refused to wear masks. The highest-profile speaker was North Carolina Rep. Madison Cawthorn, who spoke strongly against mask mandates."They're trying to indoctrinate our children. My constituents are furious about this and I don’t want to be up in Washington, D.C., passing down for what the local government should do," Cawthorn told WYFF News 4 after the meeting. "But I do believe we need to hold government people accountable for overstepping."Eric Gash, a Democratic challenger of Cawthorn's for North Carolina's 11th Congressional District said Cawthorn didn't belong there. "He’s the last person we need coming in here, telling us how to take care of our kids," said Gash. "He didn’t come to the last meeting. He's routinely voted against relief for schools."North Carolina state law now requires school boards to meet regularly regarding face-covering policies. The board will discuss the mandate again next month.