Perkiomen Valley School Board Approves 'Universal Masking'

PERKIOMEN VALLEY, PA — The Perkiomen Valley School Board Monday night became another in what is turning out to be an increasing number of area school districts to mandate students wear masks inside school buildings for 2021-22 school year, with many local school directors heeding the recommendation of county health officials that universal mask usage is one of the best ways to stop the increasing spread of COVID-19.

The board approved the district’s latest health and safety plan during its business meeting this week. The vote was 8-1, with the only board member voting ‘nay’ being Matthew Dorr.

The votes were recorded and posted online along with the meeting agenda following the Aug. 9 meeting.

The move by the board was not met without resistance, as some parents and community members accuse the officials of playing politics and not giving families enough choice in the matter.

On social media, some area residents blasted the board’s decision.

“I would just like to point out the facts that: there is no longer a state of emergency in PA, there are no PA governor’s orders (even when there were, the governor allowed exemptions), there is no state or local mandate or laws for masks, and the Montgomery County guidance is only recommending masks but not requiring them,” Donna Marie commented on a Facebook post by the Perkiomen GOP announcing the board vote. “So, where exactly does this come from and what is it based on besides Fear?”

Others also blasted the move.

“Voted community members DO NOT have higher physical, mental or emotional authority than students and parents!” wrote Heather Godshall.

And commenter, Lisa McHale, said that board members had likely already made up their minds made up about which way to vote before the meeting ever got started.

In the days leading up to the board meeting, a group called Pennsylvania Parents Protecting Children sought signatures from community members opposing any mask mandate through a petition designed to “immediately and fully revoke” any mask police at the Perkiomen Valley School District.

“We, the citizens, urge this district to stop the policy of ‘mandated masking,’” the petition reads. “We look forward to seeing the smiling faces of our health children returning to school without masks.”

Not everyone opposed the board's decision, with some parents attending the board meeting speaking out in favor of masking as a mitigation measure against COVID-19.

One such parent was Collegeville resident Tracy Tweedie, who has two kids in middle school, one of whom is too young to be vaccinated. She asked the board to, “use your hearts, use your good judgment and follow the science, to make the right decision to vote for the health and safety plan that requires masks to protect our youngest learners.

Tweedie acknowledge that the mask issue has become a hot button topic, pitting those supporting individual freedom of choice versus those who feel the masking issue is a greater societal protection measure.

“I know you’re in a difficult position that’s made harder by the loud and threatening voices, but don’t let those voices cloud your judgment,” Tweedie said. “If you make the decision to protect our students, you might continue to be threatened and harassed and I’m sorry for that, but if you make the wrong decision, children could end up sick and hospitalized.”

Tweddie says that COVID-19-related hospitalization rates are rising across the country, “and it’s only a matter of time before that’s us.”

She questioned how the district could have a policy whereby her daughter could be sent home for wearing spaghetti straps, “but you can’t send someone home for not wearing a mask.”

“For her, you’re not supposed to distract the boys,” she said. “For them, they might send her to the hospital.”

She urged the board to require universal masking at least until “every single child in our district has the opportunity to be vaccinated.”

In the end, the board agreed with those like Tweddie, and passed the health and safety plan containing the universal masking provision.