Pennsbury Parent Says Allegations In Lawsuit Against School District Are False

YARDLEY, PA — A local man who has joint custody with one of the parents suing the Pennsbury School District over its health and safety plan said Friday that neither he nor his child had any knowledge of the lawsuit prior to its filing.

The man, who wished to remain anonymous in publication to protect his child's identity, also told Patch that the statements in the lawsuit about his child's feelings and experience with district mask requirements are false.

Athena Argyris, with whom he shares custody, is one of three parents who sued Pennsbury on Sep. 24 in hopes of a ruling that the district has no legal right to enforce its indoor masking policy, and that families can receive exemptions from face covering mandates on religious and philosophical grounds. She and two other parents, Richard Mattis and Bradford Child, filed the suit through the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas on behalf of their children.

In the lawsuit, Argyris says that the district's mask requirements last year caused their child to have outbursts, experience depression and anxiety, become more reclusive, and get worse grades.

But the parent who spoke with Patch Friday said their son prefers to wear a mask and follow the requirements, and never had the outbursts alleged.

"When all this COVID stuff happened and the hybrid stuff, my son didn't care what he had to do to go back to school," he said. "He just wanted to see his friends."

He said their son tried out for a school sports team this year and that while he struggled at times with hybrid learning, he never received the F grades alleged in the lawsuit.

"As far as I know, he doesn't suffer from depression," he said. "I've never known my son to have any of those issues."

The father said both he and his son only learned of the lawsuit through reports in the media. He also said he doesn't know any of the other parents or children involved.

He also believes involving their child in a lawsuit without his consent is a violation of their custody agreement, which includes provisions for making "important decisions" together as parents.

"He needs to be removed [from the suit] immediately," he said, adding, "I'm looking out for my son. That's really all I care about."

Patch could not immediately reach Argyris’ lawyer for comment.

Learn more about the lawsuit against the school district here: Parents File Lawsuit Against Pennsbury Over Mask Requirement