What typically should have been a breezy and upbeat school board meeting just prior to the opening of a new school year had a very different shift Monday at Cranberry as the school board focused on coronavirus pandemic mandates on all-day wearing of face masks and the launch of a very different fall sports season.
“I’ll tell you one thing – we’ll be adjusting this as we go forward,” school board president Tom Neely said after a lengthy discussion about the state Department of Health directive that requires students and staff members to wear face coverings throughout the school day.
The face mask discussion started with comments offered by Kristopher Golden, a Cranberry parent, who said he was speaking on behalf “of a lot of concerned parents” in the district.
“It’s a mandate, not a law and cannot be enforced,” Golden told the board. “It should be a choice to wear one or not. Let our kids have a school year better than last year.”
Neely responded, “Be assured we have all thought about this and are struggling as a group. Yes, it is completely a new venture.”
Superintendent Bill Vonada said the district has drawn up a parent/guardian attestation form that outlines the state mandate as well as listing exceptions to face covering requirements.
Those exceptions include individuals with a medical issue, those who are unable to remove a mask without assistance, or those who have a verbal disability. If a child cannot wear a face mask, the district is suggesting a face shield.
Parents must sign the form and aren’t required to show documentation that an exception applies. However, the district can revisit that at some point by asking for a medical opinion.
“This is not a waiver. It doesn’t give you permission to not wear one,” said Vonada.
School board member Lance Mitchell objected and noted, “If you are afraid, just stay home. We’re teaching our kids to be fearful. We are making a decision about our district (with) … influence from the outside.”
That drew a quick response from Neely who insisted, “We are guided by the Department of Health, the Department of Education and it’s our duty as a school board to follow that. They’re not outsiders.”
Kyle Melat, a board member, added, “What choice do we have? We are guided by the Department of Health.”
Board member Camae Bunyak offered that the district must “protect everyone”. In agreement, board member Chad Findlay said, “There are more than just kids at risk. Yes, we need to protect everyone, including staff.”
Justin Fleeger, a board member, added, “It’s not just the people in school, either, but the people at home.”
Board member Mark Marterella commented, “My biggest concern, my number one role, is that I want our kids back on campus. If wearing a mask gets you in school, that’s the concession you make. I hate the masks, too, but it is a concession I am willing to make.”
Board member Robert Blauser echoed Marterella’s remarks and said, “It is about the protection of others and wearing a mask is a small price to pay.”
Neely and Bunyak voted against adopting the form advising parents about specific face mask exceptions. Those voting to approve the document were Marterella, Blauser, Findlay, Fleeger, Melat and Mitchell. Ken Brannon was absent.
Fall sports to go on
There was no dissension among board members to approve a fall sports season for football (co-op with Oil City), volleyball, golf and cross-country. The PIAA board approved a plan last week to allow individual school districts to decide if they would hold the fall sporting events.
Those steps include: athletes must wear masks on the sidelines; uniforms and equipment must be taken home and cannot be shared; parents must self-check their children for temperatures/signs of illness at home; locker rooms will be limited to five to 10 athletes at a time; and all facilities will be sanitized/cleaned after every practice.
There will be attendance and participation limits, said Deemer. No more than 25 individuals, including players, coaches, timers, referees and others, can be inside at any one time at a sporting event.
The outside limit is 250 people, a number easily reached with players, home team band/cheerleaders, officials and other game-related personnel, said Deemer.
“With that 250 limit, we may not be able to include some ninth and 10th graders,” said Deemer. “Invitationals, like cross-country, may be limited in the number of teams and participants. Even outside, no parents can be at a finish line or starting line.”
Asked if he recommended opening up the fall sports schedule, Ritt Smith, a coach and high school principal, said, “I am sure we can keep our kids and staff safe. The tough issue is that some kids may have to sit out in the (high school) commons and not participate. I feel confident that if the parents do their jobs in health screening, we can do our job, too, and keep them safe so they can participate.”
Prior to the meeting, several Cranberry athletes and their parents waited patiently at the entranceway to encourage the board to begin a fall sports season.
“We want them to know that ‘please, let them play’,” said Wendy Ziegler, whose daughter, Kalynne, is a cross-country runner.
Joining them were Bryan Ziegler and volleyball players Ava Ferringer, Ayanna Ferringer, Jenna Reynolds and Ava Fischer.
The Cranberry athletic teams have been holding voluntary practices with coaches for the past few weeks in preparation for what they hoped would be a fall sports season.
