'Remote Is Scarier Than Masks': Howell BOE Talks In-Person Return

HOWELL, NJ — Howell Township K-8 students will have to put their masks back on for the start of the school year as the district maintains that it is fully complying with the mandates set by Gov. Murphy, despite pleas from many parents at the last board of education meeting.

Not only will the board not violate the mandate, it will also not likely be joining in on any lawsuit against the state government's decision.

During the Wednesday meeting, the board agreed to have a letter sent to Gov. Murphy — not to contradict executive orders 251 and 253, but to ask for clearer information as to what the milestones are in order to allow students to be maskless.

Board member MaryRose Malley suggested that the board advocate for a set of metrics laying out a clear path to when masks become optional, such as when masks will be required based on a transmission rate as opposed to a mandate applied indiscriminately across the state.

She also stated her priority was for schools to be open, even if that means students have to wear a mask.

"The whole thing is getting the kids back in the school building because remote learning does not work for the majority of students," Malley said.

Many other board members aligned with her views on the matter.

"Remote is scarier than masks," board member and Freehold Regional District teacher Jennifer Okerson said, adding that she recently spoke to students at the opening of school for administration. "To them, normal is a full day, normal is lunch and they don’t care if they have a mask on their face or not."

Board member Denise M. Lowe said that the board should wait for the state government to release their full school reopening plan and then to write any letter based on a reaction to that document.

"The goal was we want our children back in school. I would never even wanna risk any opportunity for us not to open," Lowe also said. "I would really like to think that you would have trust in what we do that we would never never never to anything that would impact the safety of our students."

Despite the words, many parents were angry with the decision to comply with the state government and threatened to sue the board in the future. Some went as far as to draw comparisons to nazi Germany and segregation, often calling Gov. Murphy a "tyrant."

"Muzzling children is evil. It's child abuse," one resident said. "I further request that even if a masking policy is put into place in Howell schools, that the policy is not fully enforced."

A few parents spoke up about constitutional rights and about risks to their children's mental, social and physical health and urged the board to go against the mask mandate.

"You are going to get sued no matter what," one mom said. "Stand up with other communities, stand up with other boards of education. Unite and say no more to these mandates."

READ MORE: Back To School: Howell 2021-22 School Calendar

Another resident stood up to speak on behalf of a coalition of 150 families.

"Make no mistake, there will be lawsuits," he said. "Lawyers are lined up waiting for you guys to make mistakes. And all you have to do is give consent back to parents."

At one point, Board President Mark Bonjavanni interrupted the public comment to ask the board's lawyer to clarify the issue of liabilities and the board's obligations.

The lawyer explained that there's a state law called the Emergency and Temporary Acts which gives the governor the right to establish executive orders in the case of emergency and disasters. Therefore, if municipalities don't follow those orders they are actually breaking the law.

"The governor has adopted an order. According to the law, the order must be followed," the lawyer said. "If they do so, they have no liability."

There were moments of tension between some members of the public and officials, with the lawyer at one point interrupting his speech after repeatedly asking a parent to stop intervening.

"If you’re having a tough decision between deciding on your career or what’s best for our students’ wellbeing then do us all a favor and resign because this is not the position for you," one resident said.

A minority of residents spoke during the meeting in favor of masking students, most of them defending that the real problem was the risk of having students go remote as a result of a surge in cases.

"Last year was harder with masks. But I would definitely like to say that it also wasn’t awful," one student who recently graduated from Middle School South said. "I would also just like to say that I feel like we should try our best to wear masks."

One mom shared her seventh-grade daughter's words about how much easier school was last year once students were allowed back from home, with no glitches or other problems.

"It’s very hard to concentrate for most kids at home," the mom read. "I believe we should have masks in school because I’ll be able to do all the things we enjoy in school."

Superintendent Joseph Isola shared a few details about COVID-19 guidelines for the upcoming school year.

Every student will have at least one mask break per hour and will be directed to ask for a break should they feel uncomfortable or have any kind of difficulty. A tent has also been ordered for every school to help extend activities to outside areas while weather permits.

There will be changes in contract tracing. From now on, if two individuals were at least three feet apart and both wearing a mask they will not be considered close contact.

"We can envision far fewer individuals needing to be excluded from wrong and or school. And that should be helpful," Isola said.

With the community divided on the topic of masks, the official wants to make sure that the debate is held in the appropriate spaces.

"We wanna make sure that those statements and opinions are left out of the instructional environment," he said.

The board agreed for a letter to be drafted by Bonjavanni, Isola and Board Vice-President Albert Miller. The letter will be shared with the rest of the board members, who will have a chance to suggest edits.