Fight for “parental choice” continues as board anticipates dropping mask requirement

A motion to make masks optional for the district’s students and staff following the expiration of Governor Kathy Hochul’s state mandate on February 21 was passed unanimously by board members at last night’s board of education meeting.

Governor Hochul, however, said as recently as Wednesday that the state’s schools mandate will not expire as scheduled on February 21 and that she would revisit the question of whether to continue requiring masks in schools in the first week of March, after most children return to school following winter break. Board members acknowledged her announcement, and asked that district officials ensure a plan is in place to best prepare both students who choose to wear masks and those who don’t for a mask-optional environment, whether in a couple of weeks or next month.

It was noted early in the meeting by Superintendent of Schools Robert Banzer that the board would be entertaining a resolution stating that “once the state’s mask mandate expires, or is rescinded, there will be no requirement in schools necessitating students, staff or visitors to wear face coverings or masks.”

The resolution, as read by board president Dr. Larry Licopoli as the meeting commenced and repeated by Mr. Banzer upon request at the end of public comment, states that the individual discretion to wear a mask would begin following the February 21 expiration or its earlier appeal “and provided no other law, rule, regulation, decision and/or order is subsequently enacted, adopted, and/or issued requiring face coverings in P-12 schools.”

During the public comment section of the meeting, approximately 14 residents spoke out against the school mandate and in favor of parental choice, with some insisting that the board not wait for the mandate to expire and make masks optional immediately.

“It has become very clear that the line between politics, education and personal civil liberties has become blurred,” said Northport resident and educator Jeanette Roberto. “Many of the policies that have come to light as of late have slowly chiseled away the precious rights that allow us to pose questions, gather facts and formulate conclusions. It is my concern that the future political decisions will continue to wear away our rights as parents to make personal decisions for ourselves and our families.

“I am hopeful that our school district and our community will stand together and stand up to those political powers that wish to wipe away our rights to decide for ourselves about issues that are personal and should always remain as such. I ask that we stand strong, we stand together to fight for parental choice."

East Northport resident and district parent Frank Labate questioned how long the district would follow the “arbitrary standards” and metrics of the state. “The debate is over, we know the right thing to do… The right thing to do is to direct the superintendent at the end of this meeting to send out an email tonight, effective immediately that masks are optional,” he said.

Board member Victoria Buscareno, speaking before she voted in favor of the resolution, commented on what she hopes to be the end of the mask mandate in February or March, and the tolerance and acceptance she expects all staff and students receive, no matter their decision to wear a mask or not.

“The part of this that is going to fall on us is that we’re having conversations with our kids at home so that they come to school prepared, knowing,” she said. “So that’s why we’re putting this out here. Because we want to be prepared, we want our staff, our students and our families to feel comfortable with whatever decision that they decide. So that conversation starts now. It’s going to happen in my house and it should be happening in everyone’s homes. Because then this way, when that day comes… we just create that environment in our schools where our kids feel safe.

“I’m really hoping that we have enough time to digest all of this, prepare our kids and be accepting of whatever people’s personal opinions are.