The wearing of masks during the coronavirus pandemic has been a divisive issue nationwide for more than a year, and those polarizing viewpoints presented themselves Wednesday at the South Butler County School Board meeting.

Belinda Gordon, whose 10-year-old granddaughter is a student in the district, angrily railed against the recent mandate announced by Gov. Tom Wolf that all students in Pennsylvania's public schools must wear masks beginning on Tuesday.

Gordon said she has seen no research stating that masks are effective, and that her granddaughter told her she can't breathe while wearing a mask.

She said masks take away the students' identity and are not in line with the freedoms afforded to residents of the United States.

“This is not a communist country,” Gordon said. “This is the United States of America.”

She said students who want to wear masks should be allowed to, but those who do not should not be mandated to wear a mask at school.

“Unmask our children,” Gordon said before storming out of the meeting.

Later, Dave Foley, superintendent, said he spoke with district solicitor Tom Breth regarding whether the state Department of Health has the authority to issue a mask mandate in public schools.

He was told by Breth that while litigation is pending on the issue, he recommends that the mandate be followed until the district “hears something different.”

Board member Debra Miller said she has been elected to the school board five times and takes her responsibility to keep students safe and healthy very seriously.

She said the district keeps students safe by using captured entrances, metal detectors and school police officers, and ensures all new students are vaccinated against myriad diseases.

She said wearing masks may keep students in school and help prevent the sporadic closures experienced last year.

“If you want a quality education, you need to be in front of teachers for at least 180 days,” Miller said.

She said that as a former hospital employee, she wore a mask into patient rooms and immunocompromised patients wore masks to protect themselves in the hospital. “If wearing a mask or shield protects a student or staff member, then why wouldn't we do this?” Miller said.

She likened wearing a mask during the pandemic to following the rules when driving to remain safe.

No other board members offered their thoughts on the state mask mandate.