Board temporarily reinstates mask mandate
The Exeter School Board voted 7-2 Sunday, Jan. 2, to reinstate mask requirements for all students, staff and visitors to district buildings.
The restriction takes effect Monday and is to continue until Jan. 19. The board plans to revisit the issue at its Jan. 18 meeting.
The board met Sunday to discuss its response to Berks County’s decision last week to reinstate a disaster emergency declaration due to a tremendous increase in COVID-19 cases in recent days. The intention was to decide on any changes in policy before staff and students return from the Christmas break.
The district had been making masks optional since a court decision nullified the state Department of Health’s orders that masks be required in all Pennsylvania schools.
Board member Jason Mell, who introduced the motion, said it is wise to exercise caution while the local health system is under significant strain. He said it would be better to act right away rather than wait until cases start to rise and that making masks optional greatly compromises their effectiveness in reducing virus transmission.
Board member Timothy Morgan said a temporary mask requirement will make it less likely that schools have to return to virtual learning.
Board President Ann Hearing and member Andrea Battler voted against the measure. Hearing said it would be better to leave the matter up to each family. She argued that COVID is not going to go away and that it’s time to start treating like other contagious illnesses rather than taking extreme measures to prevent its transmission. Battler objected to not requiring masks in sports and other activities involving physical exertion, which she said was inconsistent and would greatly reduce the policy’s effectiveness.
The board also passed Morgan’s motion calling for people to take precautionary steps if a member of their household tests positive for COVID-19. The measure is based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It recommends a fiveto 10-day quarantine for unvaccinated people along with fully vaccinated people who received their last dose longer than six months ago for Pfizer and Moderna vaccines or two months ago for Johnson & Johnson. People who have received a vaccine booster or were vaccinated more recently are asked to wear a mask in school for 10 days.
Morgan acknowledged that the policy cannot be enforced, as there’s no reporting requirement for positive COVID tests in the home. He argued it still would be helpful to provide district families with clarity on what the school system expects of those who find themselves in that situation.
The motion passed by an 8-1 vote, with Hearing opposed.