Although the Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors didn’t take any formal action Thursday evening regarding an announcement on August 31 from Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf that masks are required in schools, the district does plan to enforce the mandate.
Wolf announced the secretary of health’s order mandating masks in the state for all schools and licensed child care centers. The new requirement will take effect on Tuesday, September 7 and requires students, teachers and staff to wear masks when inside school buildings.
The new mandate will not apply to school sports or outdoor activities.
“The science is clear. The Delta variant is highly transmissible and dangerous to the unvaccinated, many of whom are children too young to receive the vaccine. Requiring masks in schools will keep our students safer and, in the classroom, where we all want them to be,” Wolf said in his announcement.
This announcement regarding masks was posted to the Ellwood City Area School District’s website.
ECASD Superintendent Dr. Wesley Shipley said this is not a mandate coming from himself or his administration nor was it the action the district wanted to take or was expecting to take this school year.
He said he is still waiting for guidance from the state on exactly how the school is expected to enforce the mandates and if any disciplinary action will be suggested. At this time, he said he has directed district staff not to “have a heavy hand” when enforcing the mandate. He said he hopes to have an answer regarding enforcement in the coming days.
Approximately 30 people attended Thursday night’s meeting of the Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors.
“We are obligated to enforce it,” he said. “But we are looking for how to appropriately do that.”
District Solicitor Jennifer Dambeck said she understands the frustration of district parents, but that little can be done.
“Our hands are tied,” she said. “We don’t have the ability to invalidate that order.”
Dambeck said she advises the district to follow the mandate to avoid liability.
This new mandate is a swift change from early August, when ECASD’s administration and board of directors had hopes that the students could return to school and continue classes mask free. In fact, the Board of Directors voted on August 12 to leave the decision regarding wearing masks in school up to families.
At that time, they decided that masks would be only required on the buses to stay in line with a federal mandate on mass transit.
District Superintendent Dr. Wesley Shipley said at that time he would encourage families to do what they feel is best.
“If you feel more comfortable wearing a mask, we encourage it,” he said in early August, but reminded the board and visitors that should a mandate come down from the state or federal government, the plan would change.
The recent mandate prompted a crowd of about 30 district parents.
Nicole Schilling, district parent, was very clear in her disapproval of the mandate.
“It is our choice for our children,” she said citing articles that she claimed state the dangers of wearing masks. “If we do not use common sense, how are we going to educate our children?”
Lisa Guerrera, along with other parents in attendance spoke on behalf of the students who find it impossible to wear a mask because of anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder following incidents such as sexual assault.
“What are we going to do to make their mental anguish less,” she asked.
There were also a few people in attendance who supported the mandate.
Robert DeBlasio, said the pandemic has killed more than 650,000 people.
“This shouldn’t even be a discussion,” he said. “Put the mask on.”
His comment was met with applause from two other attendees.
Many in attendance felt that the decision should be left up to the parents.
District Parent, Lisa Nardone said her kids will not be wearing a mask to school on Sept 7. She said she believes the mask should be optional and the decision of each family.
“I’m done,” she said. “I’m not doing it.”
Michael and Victoria Kincaid have four children in the district and stand strong against the mandate. The couple said they are Marine Corp Veterans and fought for freedom. They believe this mandate infringes on their rights.
“Do not force my children to wear a mask,” Victoria said.
Many board members struggled to find a clear answer and method to enforce the mandate.
Board Director Kathy McCommons said she doesn’t feel comfortable forcing mandates regarding health choices for other parents.
Director Renee Pitrelli asked if a form could be provided to exempt a child from wearing the mask and if it would clear the district of liability.
Director Erica Gray suggested an enforcement by word of mouth reminding the students of a mandate and providing a mask and written reminder of the mandate be the only enforcement made by the district staff.
Director Barbara Wilson said she didn’t see a problem with following the mandate.
“It’s not that hard to wear a little piece of cloth on your face,” she said.
Shipley said more guidance, information, and details will be provided as clarification comes from the state.
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