A Port Byron Board of Education meeting was cut short this week after community members “began to speak and act in a disrespectful manner,” said District Superintendent Mike Jorgensen.

During the public comment portion, Jorgensen said community members shared their concerns with masking in school. He said the president warned if people continued to swear and use offensive language that the meeting would end.

“Multiple members of the audience continue to shout obscenities and make threatening remarks towards the Board of Education and the school administrators,” he said. “This made it impossible to continue the public comment portion of the meeting. At that point in time, the meeting was adjourned.”

Community members are upset over the masking requirement that the state put in place for all schools in August. Some families say the district should speak up against the mask mandate.

One parent said she understands the district is dealing with the mandates but says there should be rights inside the schools. She said they would rather risk catching the virus than "risk my child being harmed by the lack of oxygen to her brain and by breathing in her own toxins every day."

During the meeting, a speaker said, “We will and we can throw you off your seats if you continue to be unwilling to work with us.”

He said he is bringing a ‘warning’ that if any government continues to “trespass these limits of authority, liberty-loving Americans will rise and stand between you and everything you hold dear and sacred.”

Another man shouted from the back, "A majority of people in this town do not want masks!"

People were heard saying swear words to the board and, when asked not to, some referred to freedom of speech.

"While the district understands some community members are frustrated with the health and safety protocols currently in place; disrespect for others, offensive language, and threatening remarks will not, and cannot, be tolerated within our district or at our Board of Education meetings," the superintendent said.

People started to express other frustrations with things that have happened in the schools and districts before the board and superintendent got up and left.

"You better sit there and listen!" someone shouted.

Others said, "Let them walk!" saying they "would be forfeiting their positions."

The superintendent said they are always reviewing how they operate as a district and will continue to talk about the best course of action in the future.