File/Children in the Margate schools wear masks on their first day, Sept. 3, 2020.
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
MARGATE The Board of Education Tuesday, Nov. 9 heard opposing opinions from parents regarding Gov. Phil Murphy's mandate that masks be worn in schools.
Parent Kristen Levin called the mandate laughable, if they weren't so inhumane, while parent Diane Shapiro stated that the way forward in combating the COVID-19 pandemic is vaccination.
What we are finding is that those who do not want to wear masks&are also unvaccinated, Shapiro said.
She said there is nothing personal about the choice to wear a mask, stating, If you don't wear a mask around my kid who is unvaccinated, you can give him COVID.
The mask mandate benefits not only the children but the community as well, she said, asking the board to prioritize its protection of students.
Levin said the CDC notes risk of children contracting the virus is .003% and that the World Health Organization has provided no evidence that masks reduce the risk of getting COVID and that there are potential harms to consider.
Mask wearing won't end until people stand up and don't comply, she said.
Levin said her son who has psoriasis, has sores on his face from wearing a mask in school that becomes moist and filled with bacteria.
It's causing more harm and not doing any good. We can't deny the mental, emotional and psychological harm, she said. I'm going to get to the point where I practice civil disobedience.
Board solicitor Eric Goldstein, who prepared the resolution approved by the board at its last meeting requesting the governor allow the district to make a local decision regarding mask-wearing, said he believes other school districts have also sent similar letters to the governor.
Calling it a hot button issue with no easy answer, and noting that Pennsylvania's governor will allow school districts to make their own decisions starting in January 2022, Goldstein said it is not clear if Murphy will relax the mask mandate if the rate of transmission wanes.
Right now, we are still bound by the governor's Executive Order, Goldstein said. The board respects all parents' decisions, and every parent has the right to guide what is right or wrong for their family. But for right now we are bound by the rules.
Board member Tracy Santoro clarified that the resolution sent to the governor did not ask him to relax the mandate but instead asked that the board be able to make the decision locally.
We didn't want big government telling us what to do, let us as a district discuss and make our own decision, she said. That's what the vote was.
Board member Joel Frankel said that even if the mandate was lifted, there would still have to be a discussion and decision made by the Margate board.
Board members want local rule, Goldstein said, noting Margate may be different than other districts with its smaller population and small class sizes.
Classes at both the Eugene A. Tighe Middle School and William H. Ross Elementary School average 8-10 students, which provides ample room for social distancing. The district was the only district in Atlantic County to provide in-person learning throughout the 2019-2020 school year.
Let us make our own decision, Goldstein said. That decision might be we want to continue with masks, or we may wish to remove masks. The board has taken a sworn oath to follow the Constitution and the NJ Constitution says we have to follow the governor.
The board held an executive session at the end of the meeting to discuss COVID testing and vaccinations through the schools. However, no action was taken before the meeting adjourned.
In other business, Goldstein said the board is in the process of finalizing a new multi-year contract with the Margate Education Association. He said negotiating was a long process that started before the COVID-19 pandemic. After the paperwork is finalized, it will be before the board for a vote, he said.
COVID Resolution Mask Optional 10 4 2021
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