First day of school in Margate Sept. 3, 2020.
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
MARGATE – As the start of the school year approaches on Thursday, Sept. 9 under a state mandated mask-wearing policy, the Board of Education responded to comments from several parents who say children should not be made to wear masks in class.
Citing a Bible verse, parent Jennifer Hansen said mask wearing is against her religion and that the Constitution protects religious freedom. She, and two other parents who cited reasons of health, petitioned the board to “push back” against Gov. Phil Murphy’s mask mandate.
“My religious beliefs do not allow me to put any type of mask, shield or covering over my face, as I’m made in the image of God, and I am to stand before him with my face unveiled,” she said.
The oath board members took requires they support the Constitution.
“No one can make a law or mandate that contradicts the Constitution of the United States of America,” Hansen said. “It’s the first line of your oath. I would ask you to please do your job and follow your oath.”
Parent Kirsten Levin said the mask mandate is “inhumane and violates peoples’ human rights.”
“Is anyone going to argue that masks aren’t healthy for our kids, psychologically, physically, developmentally? I’m looking for the board to push back and do what we can legally, whether it’s writing a letter to the governor, or joining with other districts that are pushing back by filing lawsuits?”
She said she believes families can make their own personal health choices.
Her husband, Joe, said he has read the science, but questions authority, citing some research on other diseases that have higher death rates in children. He said the governor should prove that wearing masks stops the spread of COVID-19, or that it is good for children.
On Aug. 6, the governor announced that all students, staff and visitors would be required to wear face masks indoors for the start of the 2021-2022 school year as a result of the increasing presence of the COVID-19 Delta variant. The move would allow all schools to offer in-person learning following last year’s pandemic which saw many students learning remotely.
Margate school district was the only school district in Atlantic County to offer a full-year of half-day, in-person learning, with all students and staff wearing masks and socially distancing. This year, district officials said they are looking forward to offering a full-day of in-person learning under the state’s coronavirus protection protocols.
There are some exceptions to the governor’s mask mandate, including when extreme heat, breathing problems, disabilities or physical activity would pose a health risk to the individual; however, medical exemptions require written authorization from a medical professional.
“Self-attestations and parental attestations are not sufficient,” the governor said.
“Here in New Jersey, we have seen a concerning rise in viral spread,” Dr. Jeanne Craft, president of the NJ Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said in the governor’s press release. “A hopeful spring has become a worrisome summer. The conditions have changed, the risk is higher, especially for children. We need to move forward with an abundance of caution. We have come so far, but we need to continue to rely on scientific evidence and expert advice to keep children, teachers, school staff and communities as safe as possible.”
To strengthen protections, the governor is also requiring all school personnel to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 18 or be subject to testing twice a week. Children under 12 are not yet eligible to become vaccinated.
Board member Jim Swift said the district is operating under the governor’s mandate.
“When the governor tells us what to do, we have to comply,” he said. “If we acted independently in violation of the governor’s order, it wouldn’t be good for the schools or the kids.”
Also at the meeting, the board approved its latest version of the NJ Department of Education-required Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Service Plan, which states that as soon as restrictions in the governor’s Executive Order 251 are lifted, “the district will strongly consider a mask optional policy for students and possibly also staff.”
A separate ‘local face covering policy” introduced at the Sept. 1 meeting is due for a second and final reading at the Oct. 6 board meeting.
Superintendent Audrey Becker said the staff is ready to address challenges posed by the pandemic.
“We understand families prefer we do not wear masks in school, but likewise, there are some families that feel just as strongly that we should all wear masks. The Executive Orders are quite clear, so we do have to start the school year with masks being worn in the buildings.”
Building principals said they are working with teachers to provide classroom breaks in addition to recess that allow students to remove their masks and spend some time outdoors getting fresh air.
Becker said she values Margate’s families and their viewpoints, and the board and administration hears their concerns.
“As the situation continues to be very fluid, changes and revisions will be made as necessary to keep children safe in schools,” she said, stating parents play a strong part in keeping students safe. She recommended parents keep their children home if they feel sick and keep open the lines of communication between home and school.
“We are all in this together. Let’s try to stay flexible and sound in our decisions, while always keeping our focus on the top priority, which is keeping our children in school this year.”
Following an executive session, school board attorney Eric Goldstein said the board and administration has spent many hours carefully considering the safe re-opening of school.
Goldstein said he would prepare a resolution in the form of a letter to the governor asking to restore some local control to the board in mask-making decisions.
“I’m going to work with the administration and the board members to put something together we can hopefully all agree upon and get that to the governor so the parents understand we have their backs and are doing whatever we can,” he said. “We have to follow the rules promulgated by the governor…hopefully, by then the Delta variant is not as dangerous and we’ll be back in business with optional masks.”
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