A verbal confrontation between audience members over the potential for required masking in North Penn schools for the upcoming school year led to Lansdale Police being called to Penndale Middle School Tuesday night.
Due to the loud argument, which occurred two hours into the meeting during the second public comment period, the school board unanimously and suddenly voted to adjourn the meeting. The motion to adjourn was made by Vice President Christian Fusco. The video can be watched below.
Prior to the dispute, the school board unanimously voted to direct district staff to update the health and safety plan to require masks at the elementary level, and only require masking at the secondary level for staff and students if transmission data increases, according to Dan Sokil of The Reporter.
“It’s my strong hope that we are able to open school in person for those who want to be in person for all five days, and we would not need to move to a hybrid or a combined way that we can stay open all five days,” said Superintendent Dr. Curt Dietrich. “There is no plan, at this juncture, no talk about going to a hybrid model. I was on a call today with representatives from the Centers for Disease Control and they reiterated the need to have children in school if they desire to do so.”
As of the most recent seven-day period, the incidence rate in Montgomery County was 55 per 100,000, with a 4.2 percent positivity rate. According to the district health and safety plan, if the incidence rate goes above 20 cases per 100,000 and the positivity rate is over 5 percent in the county, then the Board commits to revisiting whether masks will remain optional.
Both data points have been steadily climbing in recent weeks.
Argument in the Audience
The second public comment period was nearly three minutes in, when board President Tina Stoll addressed an argument happening in the audience. The board held the meeting at Penndale Middle School’s auditorium, in anticipation of a large crowd to speak to matters at-hand.
“She threatened my granddaughter, and she needs to be removed right now,” a woman’s voice rang out from the back of the room.
“I heard it,” said a man’s voice. “I heard it,” said another.
Yet, the verbal confrontation continued.
“We really need it to stop. Stop, please. Security!” said Stoll. “Can we stop? Ugh. OK, stop. Can we please let Mrs. Shafer talk?”
At that point, Fusco called for adjournment.
The argument eventually spilled outside into the parking lot, involving approximately six residents, police said. No arrests were made, and no citations were issued.
“There was a very minor disturbance where six subjects got into an argument in the parking lot after the meeting. No charges were filed, and all parties left when asked by police,” said Lansdale Police Lt. Ryan Devlin in a statement to North Penn Now.
Following the meeting, school board Director Jonathan Kassa expressed his disappointment at the lack of order and civility during the latter portion of the meeting, and urged residents to join together and listen to one another, despite any difference they may have.
“There are basic rules taught in kindergarten about respect and civility. Our core community values are centered on listening, compromise and consensus,” said Kassa, after the meeting. “When a public local government meeting isn’t able to function due to incivility, I’m deeply concerned, but also equally committed, to ensuring that cooler heads will prevail.”
“Tonight was a difficult moment for the North Penn community to witness. But I’m confident that we will move forward together, stronger in the face of divisive behavior, because we work to build bridges of understanding instead of tearing each other down,” Kassa said.
On Wednesday morning, school board Vice President Christian Fusco provided the following statement to North Penn Now:
“My colleagues and I on the North Penn School Board of Directors are volunteers who dedicate our time to this community as an act of public service. We are not infallible, but we make decisions based on our personal beliefs that the vote we take is in the best interest of the North Penn community. We were elected through a democratic process and there are norms that are required for all to observe to allow us to do the community’s business. Civility is a necessary part of that process. As the conversation continues about how to navigate schooling in the age of COVID, I ask that everyone remember that we are all neighbors and we must show one another respect, despite our differences of opinion and belief. Our children deserve better.”
Volatile Public Comments Show Divide on Masking
The first 45-minute public comment period was chock full of residents opposed to a masking mandate in the schools, with as few as three speaking in favor of a masking mandate. The meeting was contentious at times, with multiple outbursts from audience members during non-public comment periods.
Koffee Korner owner Yanni Lambros, who is running on the Republican ballot for Lansdale Borough Council, held up a mask to the board and read the label to them during the first public comment period.
“It says that PSU expressly disclaims that this mask will prevent infection or the transmission of disease, but the kids are supposed to wear them. Wonder why?” Lambros said. “What is fear? It is an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that something or someone is dangerous. Do you know how COVID spreads? It spreads just like the flu. Through the years of all the flu spreads and spikes, did we lock it down, mask up children? Did we make them learn from home? No, nobody was freaking out then. Why are we now?”
Lambros said the people did not have to take it.
“This is a free country where citizens have the freedom of choice. Forcing masks on children is not saving lives, it’s harming them,” he said.
Lambros said he stood against COVID measures at Koffee Korner and people “did not drop like flies.” In fact, he said, people thanked him because they were happier to connect with friends.
“Childhood anxiety and depression are on the rise since the start of the pandemic. Does anybody care? I always liked North Penn and its anti-bullying policy, until North Penn became the bully. I fight bullies and so do the concerned parents behind me, and we are here to tell you do the right thing. If you do not choose to act in fairness, the people will push back, and not in a violent way. People will move, people will home school, you will lose tax revenue,” Lambros said. “Good luck when the account’s empty.”
Another resident, identified as Mrs. Ruffner, supported masking in schools. She said the delta variant is affecting younger children, and anticipated Pfizer rolling out a vaccine for children ages five to 11 by October.
“I ask the board to consider masking until the children have the opportunity to be vaccinated,” Ruffner said. “I don’t know of any health organization in the world that recommends not masking unvaccinated children indoors in large groups. I believe that masking the children until they are able to be vaccinated will facilitate in keeping the schools open.”
Lansdale resident Zach Cadora got a chance to speak during the second short-lived comment period.
“This whole presentation (on the health and safety plan) hasn’t been about public health; it’s about pushing agenda and that’s the vaccine,” Cadora said. “Israel is the highest vaccinated country in the world, and it’s on lockdown right now. What about all the vitamins? Vitamin D, Vitamin C, turmeric. The first thing my kids say to me every single day when they come home is how bad the food is. You want to sit here and push public health? You feed them garbage.”
Cadora called out the board for “following the money” and not wearing masks in their own Twitter posts as it was a part of a “Democrat agenda.”
“It’s all money. Until we start getting to the end of that, you’ll get voted out. You’ll lose money because kids are going to leave,” Cadora said. “History repeats itself and it’s happening before our eyes.”
Steve Reinhart, a resident of the district for 17 years, said his soon-to-be eighth grader thrived in the virtual learning environment. Reinhart warned about the spread of the delta variant, as 31.2 percent of eligible Americans were unvaccinated.
“Montgomery County is now at substantial risk of community spread of COVID,” he said. “Delta is quickly becoming the common strain in the United States, including locally. The metrics used to show how fast it is spreading is all headed in the wrong direction. Not only are our children at risk of COVID, but everyone they come into contact with.”
North Wales Borough resident Vicky Flannery approached the podium and said desperate animals are dangerous, especially when fighting for survival.
“This board knows that their days in their elected positions are over,” Flannery said. “They are fighting like rabid raccoons for support for their next garbage policy. The board calls all of you who oppose them QAnon on Twitter, solely for being free thinking and not taking medical advice from political hacks like their best friend, [Dr.] Val Arkoosh.”
Upper Gwynedd Township resident Jessie Bradica, who is running for school board on the Republican ticket, said the current situation was very reminiscent of the decision last summer to close schools.
“This to me is beyond masks versus no masks. This is national COVID political debate at its most local and personal level,” Bradica said. “This is a nine out of nine Democrat board that has pushed political agendas to advance personal political careers, as evidenced after watching a candidate run for PA 151 House with no mask and raising $1.68 million through prominent Democrat parties including the teachers’ unions.”
Bradica said the board decided to reopen schools during a COVID surge and at the peak of COVID transmission.
“How can we trust the change in the plan is not driven by political gain that is pushed on Twitter accounts daily? Membership should be apolitical and a service to unite the community,” she said.
Dietrich said 1,949 out of 2,162 staff members are vaccinated. He said there may be opportunity for vaccinated teachers in classrooms to be unmasked with proper precautions in place to aid students who learn by watching the teacher’s mouth.
The board will decide at its next meeting whether to make unvaccinated teachers and staff submit to periodic COVID testing.
See also:
Build-A-Bag Backpack and School Supply Drive Looking for Donations and Local Partnerships
Critical Race Theory Not Part of Required Curriculum in Pennsylvania, Department of Education Says
North Penn School Board Adjusts Public Comment Policy for Future Meetings
Masks Optional In School, Mandatory On Buses ‘At This Juncture’ For Upcoming North Penn School Year
