Closing Montco Schools 'Totalitarian, Tone-Deaf,' Joe Gale Says

NORRISTOWN, PA — Montgomery County's Republican Commissioner Joe Gale is joining the chorus of voices pushing back against the recent decision to send county schools to fully virtual learning for two weeks amid the sharp spike in COVID-19 cases. In a letter published Monday, Gale called the move partisan and said that public health measures in response to the spread of the virus are "the definition of government overreach."

The Montgomery County Board of Health made the decision last Friday after a nearly-three hour public meeting on Thursday morning during which dozens of residents voiced emotional disapproval of the plan.

"The Board of Health’s totalitarian ruling is unwise, reeks of partisanship and is frankly tone-deaf to the will of the people," Gale wrote, saying that he'd been contacted for help by many parents who wanted schools to stay open. "Concerned parents want the schools they fund with their public tax dollars and private tuition payments to remain open."

The closure to in-person instruction will be in place for two weeks starting Nov. 23. It's already spurred protests, with three more scheduled this week in front of the Board of Health's Offices in Norristown and Commissioner Val Arkoosh's home in Wyndmoor.

"Courageous parents and students have made their voices heard loud and clear: in-person

education is essential," Gale added.

>>'Open Our Schools': Montco Parents Organize Several More Protests

Protesters echoed the concerns of parents and school administrators, who argued last week that officials had not taken the mental health aspect of children who are missing the classroom setting into account.

"The purpose and value of a child’s education goes far beyond the academic curriculum," Gale said. "School offers kids the integrated needs of supervised structure and a trusted environment in which to hone their social skills with peers. Everyday interactions with adults and fellow students are critical to the emotional and intellectual development of the next generation."

Gale also raised another point that's been central those frustrated by the proposal to close: schools have not been super spreader environments, in Montgomery County or elsewhere.

Montgomery County health officials acknowledged that schools have not been the source of cases, but said that could change following Thanksgiving gatherings. They pointed to outbreaks following Halloween events as reason for their concern. The decision was based guidance from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's Policy Lab.

Gale has sharply criticized the coronavirus response policies of the other two Democratic commissioners, Arkoosh and Ken Lawrence, from the onset of the pandemic, arguing for lesser economic restrictions.

"For months, I have stated openly and publicly that the cure for the coronavirus must not be worse than the disease itself," he said Monday.

Detractors of the closures say that the decision to close or reopen to in-person instruction should be left up to individual districts. Arkoosh said last week that many districts in the county already faced potential closures due to a shortage of available of teachers and staff, and that the move to close for two weeks after Thanksgiving would hopefully prevent a much longer shutdown in the future.