Point Boro Board Of Ed Hears Pleas To Fight Against Mask Mandates

POINT PLEASANT, NJ – During its meeting on Monday, the Point Pleasant Board of Education heard from parents and students voicing their feelings and concerns about the ongoing requirement that children wear masks while in schools, even with most indoor restrictions having been or about to be lifted.

Before the meeting, parents and children held up signs protesting the mandate outside of Ocean Road Elementary School, where the meeting was held. During the meeting, the protesters held up signs against the room's window where the meeting was held.

Giuliana Scalabrine, a fifth-grader at Nellie Bennett Elementary School, spoke to the board asking the district to write a letter to Governor Murphy asking that mask-wearing be optional in schools.

“Wearing the masks in school gives me headaches, makes me dizzy, and makes it hard to concentrate,” Scalabrine said.

Gina Marie Mazzaro, a parent of a high school student, spoke about her concerns of what a vaccinated student could do instead of what an unvaccinated student would be able to do.

“I’m very, very concerned about the announcements for vaccinated vs. unvaccinated,” Mazzaro said, saying that her son has chosen not to get the vaccine.

Mazzaro also brought up the possibility that half the school, including teachers and staff, would be wearing masks while the other half doesn’t.

“I have a major problem with that. I think it violates everybody’s privacy rights,” Mazzaro said. “I feel like we’re going to have an outbreak of shot-shaming and bullying.”