Deer Lakes School District parents encourage school board to defy state mask mandate

Parents of students at Deer Lakes School District urged school board officials Tuesday to fight back against the state’s mask mandate.

Superintendent Janell Logue-Belden addressed the mandate as the meeting started.

She told parents that the school must follow any mandates issued by the state. Failure to comply could result in the school losing its certification or her position being terminated. She said parents’ feedback is appreciated and being heard.

“We wanted to show you that this is out of our control,” she said.

The board approved its health and safety plan July 20 that made wearing a mask optional. However, the district started requiring masks for all students, staff and administration indoors following Gov. Tom Wolf’s mask mandate that went into effect Sept. 7.

The district has reported 31 cases, according to its covid-19 tracker.

School police officers informed parents prior to the meeting they must wear masks when entering the school. Masks were provided on a table outside for those who did not have one.

Everyone at the meeting wore a mask.

West Deer resident Jamie Leuthauser brought copies of the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA)’s covid protocols, urging the board to listen to them instead of the state. Leuthauser said parents should be able to decide if their child should wear a mask.

“We are dealing with a virus that is going nowhere,” Leuthauser said. “The goal is to learn how to live safely with covid.”

Another parent, Joanne Walker, spoke on how unhealthy it is for students to wear masks all day long. She said her son said the only time students get a break from wearing masks is during lunch.

“The mandate is not law,” Walker said.

A few parents who did not attend the meeting in person spoke virtually to the school board.

One parent said her son is exempt from wearing the mask and has had a better school experience because of it. Another parent who spoke virtually said her son will not be wearing a mask. She said the administration will have to speak to her if he is disciplined.

Resident Stephanie Miller of West Deer said she was sweating and getting a headache from just wearing a mask during the school board meeting.

“I can only imagine how our poor kids are feeling sitting in school having to wear these masks all day,” she said.

Board member Vic Laurenze Jr. encouraged parents to run for school board as the election approaches in November to make change.

Should anyone do so at the late date, they would have to do so as a write-in candidate.

The board did not comment directly on parents’ concerns, but President Louis Buck said the board appreciated their opinions on the subject.