TN Dept of Health Plans To Share Children’s Private Information With Federal Government
Photo Credit: Public Domain
Published August 20, 2021
The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –
In a letter dated August 18, 2021 that was sent to all Tennessee school superintendents, TN Dept of Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey and TN Dept of Ed Commissioner Penny Schwinn outlined the state’s directive to collaborate with the federal government to collect and share data concerning contact tracing of children among other private information.
The letter states that the U.S. Department of Education requires districts to submit Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plans to the Tennessee Department of Education.
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Of particular note, bullet point 3 states that “Plans must explain the schools’/districts’ role in contract tracing. When cases are identified, schools are expected to supply a list of identified close contacts, seating charts and rosters to the extent those documents are maintained (for bus, classroom, lunchroom, or athletics setting, as applicable) and parental contact information to health departments.”
Also of particular interest is number 5 in the questions portion of the letter which asks superintendents to describe the extent the LEA has adopted policies and a description of any such policies “following health and safety strategies.”
Articles of note:
• universal and correct wearing of masks
• physical distancing (e.g., use of cohorts/podding)
• contact tracing in combination with isolation and quarantine
• diagnostic and screening testing
• efforts to provide vaccinations to educators, other staff, and students, if eligible
Concerned Tennessee parent Lani Siciliano says, “Aren’t some of those bullets in #5 not allowed in TN? Like requiring masks? Cannot offer vaccines to children?”
The letter was issued just two days after Governor Lee signed Executive Order 84 to give parents the ability to opt their child out of a local mask mandate enacted by a school or health board.
Further, in June, several Tennessee GOP leaders warned the Tennessee Health Department against pushing vaccines on minors.
The minor targeted ad campaign appears to have been eliminated. However, based upon the letter, it seems efforts are still underway to vaccinate children.
Parent Christina Cramer said, “Enough of this!!!!!!! These unelected bureaucracies of health departments have decided somehow they are now the fourth branch of govt. THEY ARE NOT! We pay their salaries as taxpayers, they do NOT get to have this kind of insane power…WE have the SOLE RIGHTS TO OUR CHILDREN and ourselves!”
Another parent, Shanna Sullivan Lively suggests, “Flood your reps with emails and calls on this….I just did it.”
Gary Humble of Tennessee Stands said, “This is egregious and it should be stopped!! Please make sure you understand that these commissioners work DIRECTLY for Governor Bill Lee.”
Humble goes on to say, “This General Assembly needs to call itself into a special session now and deal with a multitude of issues facing the people of Tennessee including putting a check on the powers of this Governor during an emergency. Enough is enough.”
About the Author:
Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career. Most recently, he served as Deputy Directory for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others. He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History. Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com
The WHO is running our government (my opinion) and since they’re not God I don’t consider them entitled to our private information. They don’t even need to know where we live. Our government has been ignoring out Constitutional rights long enough…..it’s way too long that our legislatures have ignored this. Since the government is ignoring us, we need to stand up and let them know we don’t have a dictatorship. If they don’t have to go by the Constitution, then we’re not obligated to do what they say. If enough of us don’t stand up and do what’s right….we will never have our Country back. I am praying that’s it not already too late.
If the Gov. doesn’t stop this then he needs to be removed. Information about children is between the PARENTS AND DOCTORS ONLY!!!!! What part of this do people not understand. If I were a parent I would be looking for an attorney to sue the Gov. and the dept of health and education. This over reach needs to stop now.
I don’t have any children in school in TN. But I still agree that this “give us your children’s information” is a bunch of BS. There is no way in the world that I would hand over that information, “rules” be damned!
Massive control overreaching. Lee continues to slide with the control and not the science. TN Department of Health needs to be disbanded if it fails to keep within bounds of recommending based on real science not this agenda driven plandemic. No mandates whatsoever. Teachers don’t want children w/o masks they can go remote personally or retire/resign.
Sir, It was Lee who signed Executive Order #84 giving parents the right to choose whether or not their children wear masks in school. I have seen no evidence to suggest the governor is responsible for this latest act of tyranny which is a Clear violation of the HIPAA Laws! It is the Health Dept and the TN Dept of Education. Granted Lee should step in and hold any who violate either his Executive Order OR the HIPAA laws accountable.
I wonder how they will collect all that information from illegals who send their kids to our schools?
Tennessee Conservative: This action would be a clear violation of the HIPAA Laws. Please reach out to the proper authorities and let’s quell this attempted overreach of power immediately.
Can you say “Big Brother”?! This was all stuff of science fiction in the 60’s & 70’s-
It’s reality now! Voluntarily, in the name of being a “good citizen”, give all personal info on our children to the Federal Govt and believe it is for good?! Have we lost our minds?! Contact tracing?! What?! Seating charts and close acquaintances reported?! What?! Alien beings or evil entities of some sort have slipped into “ edgar suits” and gotten positions of power in our government, school system, healthcare system and all mainstream media! Time to be “the Men in Black”!
Protect yours and your children’s privacy…while you still can.