Some Quaker Valley parents protest school district's mask mandate

A mask mandate to start the 2021-22 school year is not sitting well with some Quaker Valley School District parents.

A handful of them let the school board know how they feel about it during a small protest before Monday night’s committee meeting and subsequent legislative session at the middle school.

“It’s rotten,” said grandparent Lori Cunningham. “We send the kids to school to get an education, not to be indoctrinated on what they should have to wear. We trust our pediatricians to make the decisions on the child’s health, not the school board.

“They’re not qualified to make those decisions. Every kid is different. Every family is different. We’re not against you putting a mask on your child for school. We’re against you mandating that everybody wear one.”

Some had signs that said “I can’t breathe with a mask” with a sad face underneath. Another sign indicated the mask mandate was being held above people’s freedoms.

Parent Jack Doran said he did not appreciate how the school board flipped its decision less than two weeks before school started, and there was no timeline for the district to readdress the issue.

He said his family coped with virtual learning, hybrid learning and the ever-changing safety protocols last year, and was hoping this year would be different.

“The school board did the best they could and we were all learning as we went,” Doran said. “The health and wellness and safety for our children should be (the parents’) decisions. Two weeks ago, 28 people spoke and 19 were against masks being mandatory. They all wanted the masks to be optional. Nobody’s anti-mask. They want the decision to be in the parents’ hands.”

Doran said he believes masks are leading to possible learning loss and possible socialization and health issues, especially for the elementary students.

The mask issue and district health and safety plan was not on the agenda Monday night.

A couple of residents during the public comment portion of the meeting defended the district’s decision.

Parent Hadley Haas said the school board members and the administration care about their students and their safety.

“These are good people,” she said. “These are thankless jobs.”

Superintendent Tammy Andreyko said she welcomes all parental input and wants them to know student safety is top priority.

“As far as parents coming to have a protest, everyone has the opportunity to be heard,” she said. “That’s a wonderful right that we have in our country. The community has been kind to us, respectful to us, bringing their thoughts to us, letting us make good decisions. I respect the demeanor and the candor that we have among our community members.”

The board had originally adopted its health and safety plan in late July with face coverings recommended and not mandated.

However, things changed mid-August and masks became mandatory. The first day of classes was Aug. 25.

District officials said reasons for the changes include:

• The recommendation for universal masking indoors, regardless of vaccination status, while the region is in the “substantial” or “high” transmission range for covid-19 has been shared with the district as the most responsible course of action by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Allegheny County Health Department, local pediatricians, public health experts and other medical professionals.

• To limit disruptions to learning and other school-related activities and reduce the risk of quarantines for students and staff.

• Per the CDC and the ACHD, students who are masked and would otherwise be considered a “close contact” do not need to be quarantined if within 3 to 6 feet of a covid-19 positive individual.

Board member Gianni Floro, a trial attorney, said he is not a fan of wearing masks, but they are necessary until covid case numbers go down or there are other recommendations from health experts.

“It’s been very difficult with Allegheny County and what’s going on in trying cases,” Floro said. “I send two kids to this (district), one in the middle school and one in the high school. I’m not fond of wearing masks, but I rely on medical professionals and what they tell us. If the medical professionals tell us to wear the mask until we get over this surge, I’m fine with listening to the medical professionals.”

Andreyko said the health and safety committee will revisit the mask issue periodically as well as review any updated guidance from the aforementioned health agencies.

“We’re proud of the work that we do, and we try to keep kids at the center of everything that we do,” she said. “This has been a great start (of the school year). The kids are phenomenal. The teachers are so glad to be back together with the kids interacting. Things are modified, but they’re just so ready to be back working thoughtfully together.”

District officials said more than 90% of the district’s 1,900 students came back to schools to start the year.