Signs with the words “Keep Masks Optional” and “Our Kids Our Choice” welcomed people attending the Hamburg Area Schoolboard Special Meeting on Tuesday, September 7, to discuss the obligations of state school masks.
Governor Tom Wolf announced on August 31 that the State Department of Health has issued an order requiring universal masking at all schools and child care centers in Pennsylvania. The mission came into effect on Tuesday, September 7.
Maskman dating was the only item on the agenda, and although members of the audience shouted dissatisfaction and support for the statements of board members several times, public comments were not allowed.
After an hour of intense debate, the Hamburg Regional Board of Education voted 5 to 3 and made masks mandatory, but parents and parents were able to fill out an exception form. The Board will review this issue at its meeting on October 11.
“Parental notes are accepted and accepted as an exception to wearing a mask without a doctor’s note.” — Hamburg Board of Education member Andrew C. Raugh
“We accept the order, but we disagree with it,” said board member Andrew C. Ruff. “Parental notes are accepted and accepted as an exception to wearing a mask without a doctor’s note.”
Board members Bradley R. Faust, Todd D. Hummel, and Laura “Rory” Lesser voted against mandating masks. Cory M. Johnson resigned from the board of directors on September 7 and did not attend.
The meeting, including the presence of the police, was moved to the auditorium to keep the audience away. Some of the masked parents refused to comment on the media for fear of retaliation, while others wanted to express their support for leaving the mask optional.
“We are not here to bully someone or start a fight. We support them and they make the best decisions for us and our children. I’m here to help .. “— Laura Nemes, Hamburg’s three parents
“We’re all here because we want to encourage the board to leave the mask optional. This is the first decision we made,” said grades 1, 6, and 7. Laura Nemes, the parent of the three Hamburgers, said referring to a group of parents holding a sign. “We do not believe that what the Governor and the Ministry of Health are doing is legal. We are based on fear and numbers that do not affect us in this area. I think we are making a decision. “
Nemes said he felt very strongly that the mask should be an individual decision.
“We want to show the school board overwhelming love and support and let them know that Hamburg’s parents are behind them by keeping masks optional,” she said. .. “We are not here to bully someone or start a fight. We support them and they make the best decisions for us and our children. I’m here to help you .. “
She said masks are not in the best interests of children for physical health, such as restricting breathing, or for mental health, such as the inability to see facial expressions.
“We have to say that it’s enough, and it has to stop here,” Nemes said.
Toni McFadden, the parent of four in Hamburg’s first, third, fourth and fifth grades, said children need to be consistent in wearing masks.
“They don’t know the anxieties they experienced. One of my kids always had a headache from them,” McFadden said of wearing a mask at school last year. “It’s unhealthy for them to inhale their bacteria all day. My kid is small. They always touch the masks. They bring these dirty masks back, so it’s anyway. I don’t think it helps anything. “
But she doesn’t want to rob other parents of that choice.
“If they feel more comfortable wearing a mask on their kids, they have all the right to do it, but don’t force it on my kids as they aren’t yours, they Is mine, “McFadden said.
Before the start of the school year, the board resolved to make masks an option.
“We are now in a situation not created by anyone in this room. The board has done what they were asked to do. It is a controversial decision, whether people like it or not. That’s what Hamburg director Richard Mextorff said. “Now there are new factors that need to be considered.”
Failure to follow Maskmandate can affect Mextorf and the school board.
Mextorf said that if he did not enforce the delegation, he risked losing his duties, and if he did, he could be dismissed by the board of directors.
State officials say school staff who refuse to perform their duties will lose their sovereign immunity. That is, you may be personally sued by someone affected by your refusal to comply with state orders.
You may also be fined $ 25 to $ 300 for each breach. If the fine is not paid, they can face up to 30 days in prison in a county prison.
“I understand that there are many people who oppose masking. I don’t think anyone is trying to be foolish. Everyone acts by believing that they are in the best interests. I think it is, “said Mextorff. “I have no choice but to encourage this committee to comply with the Ministry of Health’s universal mask obligations and have them do it when it is done. I think this is temporary. Is not all grades. “
Director Todd D. Hummel pointed out that a proceeding was filed against a mission against its legality. He asked if the board was interested in participating in a proceeding in which board member Maggie L. Rhodes claimed to have an economic impact on taxpayers.
Brian R. Spect, Chairman of the Board, argued that the Board was obliged to follow its current mission while Hummel continued to oppose its legality.
“It is the governor and the secretary of health and welfare who are acting beyond the law,” Hummel said. “I believe the law is on our side. We are a local government. As the governor said at the beginning, and as he turned back when he got lost, it’s ours. It’s a decision. I think we’re acting according to the law by saying that we’re in our position and intending to keep things as they are. “
Hummel also asked what would be the disciplinary action against those who do not wear masks if masks are required.
Mextorf said students would not be taken out of the building because they were not wearing masks. Masks are provided to those who do not wear them.
“If you have five kids without masks, that’s a simple matter. If you have 1,500 kids without masks, you have another problem,” says Mextorf. “If this is something you are not going to obey, remember, you are not hurting the governor, you are not hurting the Secretary of Health, you are your child, your principal and teacher It’s hurting all of us who serve us. We need to deal with it. “
Mextorf also wanted to publicly state that he was on the board.
Hamburg was one of the six Berks County school districts that started a new school year without the need for masks for students and staff.
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