Members face pressure to make additional changes.

            A relaxed face mask policy for schools in the Upper Perkiomen School District took effect Monday. Last week, the school board voted to approve an updated health and safety plan that makes face covering highly recommended but optional inside the district's buildings. The decision received a healthy round of applause during the Feb. 24 workshop meeting.

            Prior to the vote, board Member Melanie Cunningham, citing decreasing cases in the district since the end of January, said he was happy to see the policy change. Mike Elliot expressed his willingness to approve the action item. Raeann Hofkin described the measure as "way overdue."

            While several residents, who described themselves as anti-mask, expressed their appreciation for the vote, some asked the members to go further. At least three speakers urged the board to eliminate contact tracing.

            Several comments towards the members appeared antagonistic. One man, who identified himself only as Josh – while expressing his opposition to masking and tracing due to COVID-19 – told Solicitor Kyle Somers to "shut your mouth" in response to a request to provide his last name and place of residence as required by law during a public comment period. The resident claimed the members "should all be arrested for abusing the children" in the district.

            One woman from Marlborough Township equated the district's contact tracing to discrimination. Jennifer Beltz told the members that the community would "stop at nothing" to end the practice. She said they would all be held responsible for "what they have put the kids through."

            Jeff Borchelt, a former school board candidate, told the members that the community would continue to attend the meetings until contact tracing is eliminated. He asked for a motion, which was never offered.

            District officials are legally required to follow contract tracing and quarantine policies set by the Montgomery County Office of Public Health, according to Somers. He said after the meeting that the masking rules are left to each district.

            Ryan Cannon, an Upper Hanover resident, said he didn't want kids to be bullied into wearing masks. He claimed that he noticed one member on the board did not want to be there, based on their body language.

            Under the new masking policy, students deemed as a close contact will be required to wear the masks for two weeks while they are in class and during extra-curricular activities. Masks will continue to be required on district transportation.

            According to information previously presented by Assistant Superintendent Andrea Farina, students would be required to pass a home antigen test in order to take off the mask. Under the new requirements, tracing would only occur in the household, cafeteria and during extra-curricular activities.  Anyone who tests positive for COVID must quarantine for five days and return wearing a mask for five additional days.

            Those who are not vaccinated will continue to be identified as close contacts, according to the assistant superintendent. She said last month that administrators would continue to be responsible for outbreak management.

            Geoff Wilson, of Pennsburg, expressed concern with the policy. He said it feels to him as a bait and switch.

"I hope I am wrong," Wilson said. 

            Near the end of the meeting, McCarrick thanked the residents for their attention to the issues. He implored them to continue communicating with the district's board members and administrators.

"We made one change tonight. Hopefully, we can make more changes," the member said near the end of the meeting. We have to stop being so damn adversarial."

            Cunningham, while agreeing with all of McCarrick's comments, told the audience that the board understands the issues created by the novel coronavirus pandemic.

"Please stop acting like we are the enemy," she said. "We did not create COVID-19. Every student matters and every school board member cares."