Anyone inside a Bristol Borough School District building will have to wear a mask to cut down on the spread of COVID-19.
The school board voted at their Thursday evening meeting to update the health and safety plan to require masking in schools.
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Superintendent Dr. Rose Minniti said the policy falls in line with county, state, and federal guidance to have masking for everyone in schools.
The superintendent said the health and safety plan will help keep students in classrooms and avoid virtual learning like last year.
“It’s been a long road with everything and COVID. I know our parents have been through a lot trying to keep up with the restrictions,” Minniti said.
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At the end of last school year, Minniti felt confident masks wouldn’t be needed, but increases in cases have led to the change.
Minniti, a parent herself, said she understands parents being anxious about students wearing masks. However, she said, being in school is best for students.
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The safety plan calls for physical distancing of three feet when possible, increased cleaning and sanitization, contact tracing, and coordinating with health officials.
Masks won’t be required while eating or taking part in outdoor activities.
The district will be offering a virtual-only options for students who wish to learn from home.
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Mike Hayes, a district resident and medic, spoke before the school board and noted only a few school board members were wearing masks. He said masks do not work and said touching them with your hand contaminates them. The Mayo Clinic has said face masks and other mitigation are effective at slowing the spread of COVID-19.
Resident Kathleen Lochel asked the school board why other districts and private schools are making masking optional.
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Solicitor David Truelove said if he was the attorney for those schools, he would advise them to require masks.
Lochel said her son is vaccinated and she doesn’t want him to have to wear a mask, adding she was “disappointed” by the school board’s decision.
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Aaron Antonelli, a parent whose family has been badly impacted by COVID-19, stated masks work and he has had first-hand experience working in New York City when there were large amounts of deaths caused by the pandemic. Citing the experiences he has had with COVID-19, he thinks people should do the right thing to protect their neighbors.
“This thing is real. It’s hurting people and it’s killing people,” he said.
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Angela O’Brien, a parent, spoke of keeping kids safe by wearing a mask. She thanked the school board for their update to the health and safety plan.
A parent who works in a COVID-19 medical unit said masks should be optional. She said she is vaccinated, but her kids are not going to be vaccinated at this time because “it is too new.” She complimented the district’s teachers, but asked that masking decision be left up to families.
Minniti said the district will continue to review the data and update their mitigation measures as needed.
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