COVID-19

AASD keeps masks optional

Board votes 5-4 to reject mandate after public input

The Altoona Area School Board voted 5-4 Wednesday to leave the district's health and safety plan as is, meaning masks are still optional except for unvaccinated employees.

The board reviewed the health and safety plan at a special meeting and debated whether masks should be mandated for all staff and students.

Nearly an hour of public comment preceded the board's deliberation, which at times became hostile.

Board President Sharon Bream and board member Rick Hoover sparred over the topic, trading jabs in a heated exchange.

"It took me half a year last year to convince you to wear a mask," Hoover said. "You're a rebel, Sharon."

Bream retorted, "Keep your opinions to yourself."

"We are in the business of trusting science," Hoover said, adding that Bream's anti-mask position was simplistic. "I trust scientists who study viruses and how they are transmitted."

Bream argued that even with a mask mandate, the virus will spread anyway.

"Last year we had a mask mandate," Bream said. "Did that eliminate COVID-19?"

Board member Ron Johnston weighed in.

"I'm looking out for the children," Johnston said. "I'm looking out for the teachers and employees, and I don't want to go through what we went through last year."

Board member Dave Francis also expressed a pro-mask stance even though he doesn't like wearing them.

"I hate masks," Francis said. "I wear masks because I don't want to carry (the virus) to anyone. Let's look out for the kids."

The board ultimately made its decision, striking down Hoover's motion, seconded by Francis, to mandate masks for all staff and students.

Board Vice President Frank Meloy, Francis, Hoover and Johnston voted in favor of a mask mandate.

Votes against a mask mandate were from Bream, Eric Haugh, Kelly Irwin Adams, Ed Kreuz and new board member Stephanie McGinnis.

More than two dozen members of the public were in attendance, many choosing to address the board. Joseph Scott, a parent of two students, expressed his desire for masks to be required.

"I am strongly advocating for masks to be worn," Scott said. "Science is telling us to approach this normalcy with caution. Masks work. We know masks work. I ask that we look at masks as the least we can do."

Another resident, Chris Burlingame, echoed Scott's sentiment, advocating for masks so that students can stay in the buildings.

"We can all agree that the absolute best thing for our children is to be in school all year without disruptions," Burlingame said. "I would like to implore you to implement a mask mandate."

Other members of the community staunchly disagreed.

Angela Riley said calls for mask wearing are fear-mongering.

"Unfortunately, I feel masks are a product of fear," Riley said. "Smaller droplets go through easier. This proves masks are not effective."

She concluded with a plea to the board, "Please, do not mask our precious gifts: our children."

Tracey Stoltz, also an opponent of masks, likened the requirement of wearing them to "child abuse."

"I believe wearing masks is interfering with your God-given right to breathe," Stoltz said. "Wearing a mask all day every day is not backed by science."

After the meeting, Superintendent Charles Prijatelj reacted to the board's decision.

"I can understand the trepidation about what we need to do with masks or not do with masks," Prijatelj said. "The science and the support from the CDC and Department of Health would highly recommend masking. At this point, we're kind of on the cusp of a situation, and we're going to have to see how it plays out."

Mirror Staff Writer Andrew Mollenauer is at 814-946-7428.