Parents call to “unmask” children in the face of state mandate still requiring masks
At the “Unmask our Children” rally held on Wednesday, May 26 at the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge, a group of Northport and East Northport residents urged officials to drop the mask mandates in local schools, chanting “I do not consent” alongside fellow parents. Rally goers voiced concern about children still wearing masks in school, citing rising temperatures and vaccinated teachers as reasons to “let our kids breathe fresh air again.”
A petition started by local parents calls on the district to “follow the science” and allow kids to attend school with – or without – a mask. The “Northport-East Northport Elementary Schools Mask Reform” petition (which has accrued 231 signatures) reads, “Because our district has set up the elementary classrooms the way they have, our children are within the Department of Health guidelines where they can have their masks and ‘sneeze guards’ removed at their desks.” It ends with a call to action: “Please sign this petition to let Superintendent Banzer know that you would like our children to have the ability to remove their masks and have desks without ‘sneeze guards’ when within the DOH guidelines.”
But statements put out in the last 48 hours by elected officials and representatives do not suggest that these changes will be made any time soon.
On May 19, New York State adopted the CDC’s public health recommendations allowing for fully vaccinated people to forgo masks in most business and public settings. However, consistent with CDC guidance, students and staff from pre-K to high school (in addition to those on public transport and in homeless shelters, correctional facilities, nursing homes and healthcare settings) must continue to wear masks until more New Yorkers are fully vaccinated, said state guidelines.
Earlier this week, the Commack School District announced it was lifting the mask mandate for students sitting in the classroom and during physical education classes. Some Northport-East Northport parents took note of Commack’s announcement, and immediately began to pressure the district to drop its mask rules. Within 24 hours, however, Commack reversed its decision, citing pressure from the governor’s office to keep the mandate intact.
On Tuesday, May 25, the American Academy of Pediatrics put out a statement reading: “New guidance from the CDC has lifted mask wearing requirements for vaccinated individuals in most cases. Despite this new guidance, the CDC states that schools should continue to implement and layer prevention strategies and should prioritize universal and correct use of masks and physical distancing.” Dr. Shetal Shah, President of the NYS AAP, added, “Currently, there is no vaccine for children under age 12. This means that masks are still an important way to protect them along with social distancing. Furthermore, since unvaccinated children can still transmit the virus to others, mask wearing protects others as well.”
The Commissioner of the Department of Health Services for Suffolk County, Gregson Pigott, also released a statement on M. “It is evident that safety protocols put forth by our federal and state partners and implemented by our schools were and continue to be effective tools in reducing the transmission of Covid-19,” it reads. Dr. Pigott added that the low transmission rates in schools are attributed to the prevention strategies in place, including mask wearing, physical distancing and health screenings. He wrote, “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and New York State Department of Health have both been clear that existing school guidance should be followed through the end of the school year.”
Subsequently, Superintendent Robert Banzer issued a statement to district parents reiterating the guidance from Dr. Shah and Dr. Pigott, stating, “It is important to note that we will continue to take a common sense approach to mask wearing which includes the frequency and duration of mask breaks, social distancing, activity and the weather conditions and temperature. Our principals, teachers and staff have been monitoring this situation throughout the year and will continue using their best judgement with regard to appropriate mask breaks for students, with an understanding that the rising temperatures may require more frequent breaks.”
Mr. Banzer added that further guidance is expected as the district closes out this school year and begins to prepare for the next. “We will continue to keep you updated as guidelines change or if we receive further information from state or county officials,’ he wrote.
