Heather Curtis

WMAL

Roughly two weeks before the first day of classes in Frederick County Public Schools, residents urged the board of education to reconsider the school system’s new mask mandate first with a protest and then by addressing board members at Wednesday’s meeting. 

“We should not be ruining, ruining a generation of kids walking around in fear looking at everyone like they’re a leper,” Mark Jonaitis told the board. (Please note: the spelling of this gentleman’s name could not be confirmed.)

Superintendent Dr. Terry Alban said in July the school system would follow CDC guidance and would not require masks inside school buildings. Then when the CDC changed its guidance and recommended everyone inside schools wear masks, Alban issued a mask mandate.

In a newsletter Alban said the requirement will allow the school system to preserve in-person learning and prevent the spread of COVID-19, especially as the more contagious Delta variant goes around.

“I believe that you guys know what’s right, and what’s right is for the parents to have the choice, not for you guys to choose what we do,”  Bridget Kalivretenos, a mom of three boys, told the board of education.

She said many parents feel so strongly about their children not being forced to wear masks that they are willing to pull them out of FCPS if the mask mandate isn’t rescinded.

“If you take choice out of the matter then we aren’t even American anymore. I know you guys are patriots. That’s why you’re here. Please make a good decision and make parents the deciding factor whether or not kids wear masks,” Kalivretenos said.

The first day of school for FCPS is Aug. 18. 

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