Fox Chapel Area school board approves universal masking

An angry, boisterous crowd marched out of the Fox Chapel Area School Board meeting after members voted to require masks at all grade levels when school returns this month.

More than a dozen people booed the board’s decision, decrying universal masking and saying their liberties are being violated.

The board approved a health and safety plan with a mandate that all students, staff and teachers wear masks indoors. It was a shift from last week’s proposal that would have required only elementary-aged students to wear masks.

“Where does this stop?” resident Kelly Strain asked, following the contentious vote.

“You are choosing to take away our right to choose what is good and right for our children,” parent Shannon Browell said. “All that we ask is for parental choice. God gave me my children, not you.”

Just after the vote, an audience member gave what appeared to be a Nazi salute to the board.

Resident Debbie Leuchter Stueber said she was appalled to see that type of apparent hate slung at the board or anyone else.

“I am a resident of this school district, and I make a yearly presentation of my parents’ Holocaust experience at Dorseyville Middle School,” Stueber said. “I am disgusted.”

The district issued a statement to say it hopes all members of the community will act with respect during school events, including board meetings “even during difficult conversations and differences of opinion,” the statement read. “As we move toward the 2021-2022 school year together, the Fox Chapel Area School District remains steadfastly committed to reflecting the district’s core ideals of respect, responsibility and integrity”.

Board member Eric Hamilton said the vote preserves the freedom of everyone to be in school full-time.

“That’s what we’re here to do, not force people into quarantine because someone didn’t wear a mask,” he said.

Superintendent Mary Catherine Reljac told the audience that she modified her recommendation to include all students because it will increase continuity and keep more children in class.

“We firmly believe we need to minimize disruptions,” she said.

“We need to minimize infections and quarantines. It is very important that we work together and support all the efforts, and it is important that we model calmness, kindness and reassurance for children so they can continue learning.”

The district will be open for five-day-per-week, in-person instruction starting Aug. 24 and will offer an online option as well. The digital option will be largely asynchronous.

Families are asked to complete a survey by Aug. 12 if they choose the online model.

Under the approved plan, students and staff will be able to remove their masks while eating or socially distanced.

The district will continue to work with Allegheny County and state health experts, and guidelines will change depending on local covid-19 rates, Reljac said.

On Aug. 2, Allegheny County moved into the substantial level of transmission.

The average weekly number of covid-19 hospitalizations in the county nearly doubled over the past month, according to state Department of Health data.

Still, with no state or local mandate, some parents argued that the board overstepped its authority with the vote.

Many said the board is failing parents by taking their choice away.

“I believe you’re acting in the way that you think is best for our children but at this time, I don’t think you have the authority to do so,” Christopher Archinaco said.

Amy Horn, a retired professor, said the board risks an onslaught of legal action because she said “by forcing a mask on a child, you are harming them.”

Parent Heather Bell chastised the board because she said masks cause anxiety, headaches and drowsiness.

“I believe that masks are a security blanket,” parent Emily Glick said.

Many others, however, applauded the board’s decision.

Kim Bowles urged the board to continue to rely on data from health experts as she said “it is the best way to protect ourselves and our families.”

Pediatrician Scott Maurer said he understands the frustration. Wearing masks is not easy but it protects children who are too young to be vaccinated and others whose parents chose not to allow the vaccination, he said.

“I’ve seen children become very ill and it is heart-wrenching,” he said.

“We can get to a day where children don’t need to mask to be safe but until then, I thank you for the sound, evidence-based recommendation.”

Board member Ron Frank said the mask vote was the most important one of the night because it will protect the children.

“We can’t risk hospitalization of our students and staff when we can take reasonable measures to protect them,” he said.