Parents returned to the Mars Area School Board meeting on Tuesday night to comment both in support of and against the state masking mandate.

Valencia resident Aaron Starkey read a definition of terrorism to the board, focusing on the language of “intending to coerce a civilian population.”

“Y'all are terrorists,” Starkey said before leaving the room. “It's law, right here, written down.”

Lisa Redepenning of Valencia said the state mask mandate was “child abuse.”

“At some point, all of you who were voted in by all of us need to stand up and say I am not going to do what the government wants just because it has a hard hand,” Redepenning said. “I appreciate all that you do, but I will not just stand back and watch as my child suffers because all of you do not want to use that backbone and stand up to the government.”

Mars resident Beth Ziegler spoke from Zoom in support of the district's enforcement of the mask mandate.

“I think the district and Dr. Gross made it very clear since July that if there is a mandate, we won't be reckless, we will comply,” she said. “In addition, I don't think the district pursuing any kind of litigation is a good use of taxpayer funds.”

Clarification from board

Mars Area Superintendent Mark Gross implored parents to not personalize the controversy, saying “students are watching.”

“We will actively listen, we will communicate what we believe we can do ... and hopefully we will find middle ground,” Gross said. “I've had Zoom meetings, I've had in-person meetings and I've had phone conversations, and I can tell you this emphatically: there is power in listening, and there's extreme power in communication.”

Board member Christine Valenta shared a letter from the executive director of the Pennsylvania Association of Intermediate Units, Dr. John George.

Valenta said the letter was sent to all school boards across Pennsylvania, detailing the consequences if school boards do not comply with the Department of Health order for face coverings. Consequences could include board members being exposed to personal liability and fines relating to willful misconduct.

Failure to comply with the mask order is a violation of the law, she explained.

“As a school board director, each of us took an oath of office,” Valenta said. “In it, it states that I do solemnly swear or affirm that I will support, obey and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of this commonwealth, and that I will discharge the duties of my office with fidelity.”

“There seems to be an idea that we can choose whether or not to follow this mandate. We're threatened with personal liability if we don't,” said school board member Megan Lenz. “I would love to go back to just discussing education.”