Moorestown Schools Reopened Safely Amid Pandemic, Resident Writes

MOORESTOWN, NJ — Moorestown resident Brian Lestini thanked the local board of education for their commitment to reopen schools safely amid the coronavirus pandemic. He said it was a reason he was supporting three specific candidates in this year's elections for three open seats on the board. His letter to the editor can be found below.

To the Editor:Scho

I am grateful to Moorestown's Board of Education who, despite intense pressure, did the right thing when they issued mask requirements and other essential COVID-19 safety protocols that adhered to guidance from public health experts. Their bold actions helped reopen our schools safely and will help keep our kids in school by keeping them safe.

That’s why, as a physician and father of two young children in the district, I will be voting for Danielle Thomas, Melissa Burns and Joseph Horwitz for School Board on November 2. I trust these colleagues to continue following the evidence and counsel of experts, putting the health, safety and well-being of our kids first.

As an educator, Danielle Thomas has firsthand experience communicating with parents and students about complex situations around health and safety.

Melissa Burns, an accomplished attorney and active Home & School volunteer, has repeatedly spoken out to put the health and safety of our students first.

Joseph Horwitz’s background as a healthcare administrator brings a much-needed professional perspective on the ever-changing public health landscape.

Through no fault of their own, children currently represent the largest unvaccinated population at risk in the pandemic.

Three CDC studies found that schools without a universal masking policy in place were more likely to have COVID-19 outbreaks than those who did.

Nationwide, counties without masking requirements saw the number of pediatric cases increase nearly twice as quickly as those with masking requirements.

Unfortunately, other school board candidates have advocated against common-sense, evidence-based health protocols, failing to fully grasp how essential these are to keep our kids safe and schools open.

Voting for Thomas, Burns and Horowitz for School Board (ballot positions 4, 5 and 6) is the right choice to maintain a healthy and strong school district.

Brian Lestini, MD PhD