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The clock ticked at one minute before midnight when the Montoursville region school board finally adjourned its meeting on Tuesday evening following remarks from many residents of the neighborhood mainly on the issue of hiding students.
Despite calls from people, including many parents of students, the council has taken no action to challenge the state health ministry’s order requiring masks to be worn in schools. .
The nearly five-hour virtual meeting included remarks from people opposed to masks who called for the resignation of board members and Superintendent Christina Bason.
School officials have made it clear on several occasions that they simply cannot go against state order without being prosecuted.
The council is already being sued by local residents for failing to challenge the ordinance.
“We have the right to do whatever we want” Curtis Twigg, of Trout Run, told the board. “We should have the right to send our children to school without a mask.”
Board chairman Dave Shimmel said the board had no choice but to follow the order.
“We feel locked in” he said. “Illegal voting is not where we want to go.”
Board member William Ruffing said he didn’t feel qualified to tell people what to do with a decision whether or not to hide students.
“It’s not our idea” he said.
He advised those who oppose masks to raise the issue with state lawmakers.
“They have to understand that it is not us; we must follow a mandate ”, he said.
Karen DiSalvo, a local lawyer, said it just wasn’t a legal order.
“I know you are worried” she told the board, “But you have to get up. We do not have a public emergency that justifies this being put in place. “
Some residents accused school officials of turning a deaf ear to their concerns, saying they were not responding to emails about hiding students.
“When will the school board listen? Amanda Wright asked.
Karen Niebert said people share the same goals of raising children and keeping them safe.
“I think masking helps protect children and other people”, she said.
She noted that district officials should consider improving ventilation in buildings to better protect students from COVID-19.
A mother of an elementary school student said her son was unable to wear a mask for eight hours a day at school, but could not get a mask exemption.
As a result, he developed sores on his face.
Another resident said children are at an incredibly low risk of getting infected with the virus.
Cory Flick said the time has come for “Real patriots to stand up”.
“They trust science rather than plots”, he said.
When it comes to masking, the safety of the general public, he argued, trumps the rights of the individual.
“I do not understand,” said Flick. “I hope we’ll follow the Department of Health and the CDC and the people who know what they’re doing.”
Orthodontist Dr Mark Oberheim told the board there was no COVID emergency.
“Stop putting your fabricated fears on our children” he said.
Other residents questioned why the council meeting was being held virtually rather than in a public place.
Ruffing said virtual meetings allow people who would otherwise be afraid to speak up to speak out about an issue.
Virtual meetings also entice many people to join the sessions, he added.
“I don’t think people in our district are afraid to speak out” said Ron Snell, board member. “There is no way you can convince me otherwise.”
Snell called for meetings to be held in a public place and virtually.
Shimmel said Zoom meetings will continue as long as the district is required to hide staff and students.
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