The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
District to make masks optional on Jan. 17
ROYERSFORD » In advance of the expiration of Gov. Tom Wolf’s statewide mask mandate on Jan. 17, the Spring-Ford School Board voted 5-4 Monday to lift its own mandate the same day as well.
Wearing masks in school, for both teachers and staff, will move from required to “recommended” under the amendment to the district’s health and safety plan.
As is often the case when COVID-19 safety measures are discussed, the vote didn’t happen before quite a bit of discussion from both the public and the board members.
The vote also came three days after the district’s 5th and 6th Grade center had to be closed Friday, Nov. 12, because the number of potential cases and close contacts was so high, the nurses could not keep up with the contact tracing.
Several speakers, including school nurse Trish Smith, spoke out against the move, noting that community transmission rates of the virus are back on the rise and are likely to rise higher, as they did last year after far-flung families gather for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.
“This is tough, particularly in past week we’ve had,” said Smith. “What it boils down to is, if we were in low or moderate transmission, I would be happy to attempt this. If we’re going to say ‘let’s go mask optional’ I don’t agree with that.”
Smith noted that the “test-to-stay” program the district began Monday — which allows unvaccinated students and staff who have no symptoms to get a quick COVID test and avoid quarantining if the test is negative — “is a program that requires masking. It’s a little premature to vote on the future when we don’t know what that future holds,”
“Don’t amend the health and safety plan in November for a situation in January,” pleaded resident Christine Dziewbowski. “Wait until January when you can assess the data and caseload.”
That data on the day the vote was taken showed the community transition rate in the district to be “high” with a large number of cases in Limerick and Upper Providence.
Other speakers argued that with vaccines now available for even the youngest students, and more known about the virus, that the mask mandate has outlived its usefulness.
Krista Weiss told the board that for the past 20 months, masks have been used in school and “obviously, this is not working. We’re keeping them masked, but you still had to shut down the 5-6 center last Friday,” adding that the 7th grade center was not shut down, even though it’s the same building. “Masks should not be on the kids at all,” said Weiss.
School Board President Colleen Zasowski noted that parents have complained in the past about the district making lastminute changes. Making this decision now not only gives parents two months to get their children vaccinated, but also adds a twoweek cushion after school resumes after the holidays.
But “if only 20 percent of a building is vaccinated, we’re still going to be contact tracing,” Smith said. “I genuinely do not believe the nurses will be able to continue this process if we go without masks.”
The board majority said it would be willing to hire more staff to help with the contract tracing, but board member Margaret Wright pointed out that the district is having trouble hiring staff now, so the offer to hire more staff could turn out to be a commitment the district cannot fulfill.
“If you listen to Nurse Smith and (Schools Superintendent
Robert Rizzo), we’re going to be doing more quarantining. I’m not sure why we’re doing it at this time, at a work session. What’s the rush?” Wright asked.
“Until we get down from high, and we’re not quarantining so much; until we see that, we’re going to have lost learning and social-emotional issues,” board member Linda Fazzini said. “Wait until the data supports your decision.”
David Shafer countered by asking “if everyone is wearing masks, why is the
Spring-Ford School Board member Margaret White asked why the decision was being rushed at a work session.
Spring-Ford School Board member Linda Fazzini urged the board to wait until the data shows lower transmission rates to remove the mask mandate. transmission rate still at high?”
Board member Tom DiBello noted that the change the board is making is simply to move the wearing of masks from mandated to “recommended. We’re recommending exactly what the CDC stated, nothing more, nothing less.”
Voting in favor of the change was Zasowski, DiBello, Shafter, and board members Wendy Earle and Clinton Jackson. Voting no were Wright, Fazzini,
Christina Melton and Diane Sullivan.
To aid in the district’s COVID-19 mitigation measures, the school board also voted unanimously to establish a “rapid testing clinic” at a cost not to exceed $30,000.
“Until we get down from high, and we’re not quarantining so much; until we see that, we’re going to have lost learning and socialemotional issues. Wait until the data supports your decision.” —Board member Linda Fazzini
“If you listen to Nurse Smith and (Schools Superintendent Robert Rizzo), we’re going to be doing more quarantining. I’m not sure why we’re doing it at this time, at a work session. What’s the rush?
— Spring-Ford School Board member Margaret White