Wolf Mask mandate backed, criticized as COVID continues to divide school communities

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September 2, 2021 | 10:24 am

(Philadelphia) – Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolfs’ decision this week to impose masks in schools is garnering both praise and criticism statewide.

The two largest teachers’ unions in the states have applauded the decision requiring all staff and students to wear masks indoors in all schools and daycares from Kindergarten to Grade 12, regardless of immunization status or community transmission rates.

As COVID-19 cases increased over the summer, parents and school boards remained divided over mitigation strategies.

In many rural areas of the state, districts have spent the last 24 hours responding to complaints from parents about Wolfs’ Order.

Until Monday, the Jersey Shore School District in Lycoming County had an optional mask policy based on a survey we conducted of our families across the district, Superintendent Brian Ulmer said.

Their optional mask plan was not based on local transmission levels which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says are high but based on community opinion.

As a leader and parent, I’m frustrated that the decision is no longer in our local hands, Ulner said, and that’s also a lot I hear from parents.

Ulner fears that the mask’s mandate may push more families into the options of charter cyber schools. According to Ulner, there was a significant exodus last year when the neighborhood went virtual. Statewide, cyber charters have added more than 22,000 students, a jump of 59% year-over-year.

For much of the summer, Wolf said masking decisions should be left to the districts. A few weeks ago, he called on the legislature to reconvene and adopt a mask mandate. GOP leaders rejected the request and Wolf changed course this week after many districts have already started classes, with most not calling for masks.

Ulner is frustrated with the whiplash and feels like he’s been put in a bad position with the parents.

They trusted us to come back, they trusted our approach, they are back in the buildings, their children are with us, said Ulner. And now they’re frustrated with politics and if they go back I don’t know if I’ll get them back.

Edward Albert, executive director of the Pennsylvania Association for Rural and Small Schools, said he had noticed this concern from its members since Wolfs’ announcement on Tuesday.

[It] It was a day when a lot of parents were upset, the superintendents’ phones were ringing all the time, and the parents would come in and just say they were taking our child out of school and putting them in cyber charter schools, Albert said. .

Albert also noted the frustration of school administrators for the last minute change.

Districts across the state faced major conflicts within communities over their health and safety plans, and Albert said school communities were exhausted.

A lot of upheaval, hard work and effort has gone into developing the current plans, Albert added.

Superintendent Matthew Splain of the Otto-Eldred School District in McKean County was also to oversee an optional mask policy. Since the announcement, he has also received notifications from parents who are considering enrolling their children in charter schools online, which he says is not ideal due to inadequate internet access and lack of home support for students.

Splain wishes Wolf made the decision two weeks ago, saving board members and school communities a lot of stress, with lively meetings and discussions.

Central Bucks clears mask warning

School districts in the Philadelphia area have not been immune to toxicity.

The Central Bucks school district has been in the midst of the storm, with both sides of the debate claiming death threats.

Prior to Wolfs’ decision and following a lawsuit filed by parents, the board was to vote on a new health and safety plan that included a mask mandate, the second of its kind in a week.

In a Tuesday night meeting, the board of directors voted 5-4 to adopt Wolfs’ tenure, but added a caveat saying families and staff do not need the signature of ‘a healthcare professional to receive a mask exemption.

The move left many parents feeling that the district policy remains optional for the mask.

According to Wolfs’ order, schools must provide reasonable accommodation for people who report having a health problem, mental health problem, or disability that makes it unreasonable for the person to maintain a face covering.

The prescription does not indicate whether a signature from a health care professional is required for an exemption. A request for clarification from the Pennsylvania Department of Health was not received in time for publication.

Ahead of the board vote, community members on both sides of the coin testified during two hours of public commentary.

Doylestown Health chief medical officer Dr Scott Levy provided data from the local hospital.

What we’ve seen since July 1, with this new delta variant, is that it’s more transmissible, he said. What we have seen is that we have gone from 10 cases per week to 100 cases per week.

Some in the crowd laughed and shouted: Lies!

A pro-mask audience member stepped in: I hope he never has to save their lives.

A number of parents have suggested that they will always send their children to school without masks, regardless of the mandate.

Tauni McFerson, of Buckingham Township, said his eldest son went virtual last year because he couldn’t wear a mask.

He gave up on being in person because mentally, with his anxiety, it was worse for him to be in school with that mask on, McFerson said. Today was like a punch.

She asked the board: what are you going to do about the kids who can’t wear a mask?

Laurie Bartolomeo, of Hartsville, said her son has multiple disabilities and takes oxygen 24/7. She expressed support for the mask’s mandate.

You can’t reap the benefits of living in a community and ignore public health advice, Bartolomeo said, you have to protect the whole community, not just healthy people.

Also ahead of the board vote, Vice President John Gamble announced he would resign. Gamble said he received a death threat after the previous school board meeting, via voicemail.

I’m done with effective bullying tonight, Gamble said.

Candidates for the Central Bucks school board running in the November election also say they have received threats from members of the community.

Diana Leygerman, who is seeking regional siege against masker opponent Jim Pepper, has received a threat via Facebook.

A message regarding his candidacy read:

Voters, do your civic duty and do your due diligence. I think the correct sequence is ready to shoot.

Leygerman was concerned that people would see this comment as a call to action.

I was scared, she said.

Tabitha DellAngelo, who challenges outgoing mask opponent Daniel Ring, received a letter at her home.

The note appeared on a printed article on Critical Race Theory, with the word crazy circled. Next to whimsical, has been written to you.

It was like this person wanted me to know that they know where I live, DellAngelo said.

DellAngelo was about to drop out of the race after receiving the letter, concerned for the safety of his family.

But, she’s still in it. I think they’re hoping to intimidate, so we back off and we don’t run, DellAngelo said.

Keystone Crossroads is a statewide reporting collaboration of WITF, WPSU and WESA, led by WHYY. This story was originally posted at https://whyy.org/programs/keystone-crossroads.

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