Students hold mask protest at Ballston Spa High School

Dozens of seniors refused to wear masks when they arrived at school, officials said.

Kathleen Moore Feb. 10, 2022

https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Students-hold-mask-protest-at-Ballston-Spa-High-16847819.php

Seniors at Ballston Spa High School declined to wear masks when they arrived on Thursday (February 10), the day the state lifted an indoor mask mandate for businesses but kept it in place for schools.

About 20 percent of the senior class at Ballston Spa High School staged a mask protest Thursday morning, the day the state's indoor mask mandate was dropped for businesses but not schools.

The students refused to wear masks when they arrived at school. The mask mandate is still in effect for all school buildings statewide.

One student said a student attended Wednesday's school board meeting and posted on social media afterward that "everyone" should protest in the morning to send a message to school leaders.

"We protested because we felt as if our school wasn't doing anything to help us in regards to the mask situation," said senior Allison Ricci. "At this point, pretty much everyone I know has had COVID or been vaccinated, so I don't understand why there's still such a concern."

Still, she hesitated to defy school rules.

"I was definitely scared to do it, but after seeing the group of kids also doing it, I realized I wasn't alone," she said.

Administrators said they were listening to the students.

"Some of the high school students were making a point that they did not want to wear masks anymore," Ballston Spa schools spokesman Stuart Williams said. "Those that were not going to follow the protocols were asked to stay in the high school library and do their work from there, similar to a study hall."

At the start of the day, 50 to 60 students were in the library. But some chose to return to class with a mask. The rest were marked absent, he said.

"School leaders have met with the students and listened to their concerns. One lesson that they are learning is to reach out to their representatives in Albany to express their opinions as well," Williams said.

It became a teachable moment, said Superintendent Ken Slentz, who said he and Principal Gianleo Duca "both met with the students to explain the situation, answer some of their questions, and discuss options for how their voices could be heard at the state level."

In a letter to parents, Slentz wrote, "from a civics instruction perspective, this is a really interesting day with the learning that is taking place.

"From a school and district management perspective, however, it does indeed present some challenges and reflects the climate that we are in in New York State at this point."

He noted that coronavirus case numbers are falling — the state's new cases are now back where they were on Nov. 30, before the omicron variant fueled a months long spike in cases — and that he had hoped Gov. Kathy Hochul would announce a "specific target date" for dropping masks in schools.

Hochul on Wednesday said she would consider it depending on the results fielded from voluntary rapid testing of students following February break.

The students got support from Assemblywoman Mary Beth Walsh, R-Ballston, who issued a statement criticizing Hochul's decision not to lift the mask mandate in schools.

"As evidenced by this morning’s student protest at Ballston Spa High School, our kids are sick and tired of the mask mandate," Walsh said. "Treating students the same as nursing home residents – two very different populations with statistically different outcomes from the virus –  is confusing and irrational."

Walsh also said testing students after the February break would not "speak to the reality that most people who contract omicron have mild cases and many do not know they have it at all."

She said students and teachers who want to wear masks should continue to do so, while the rest should be able to stop.

"We are no longer in a state of emergency even though Gov. Hochul and her administration continue to govern like we are," Walsh said.

Ballston Spa school officials recently ran a survey asking about masking preferences, which Slentz said he would use if the state allows each school district to set rules on the issue.

"That work continues, but in her announcement yesterday, the governor stated that additional guidance will be provided for how districts can manage their planning once a determination is made for returning decision making to local districts," he said. "We will review that information once released and continue our planning utilizing a variety of information, including the survey results."

Students also asked him what would happen if more students refused to wear masks in an ongoing protest. Slentz warned that they could face disciplinary action, such as suspension.

But, he said, he is not going to discipline them for their protest Thursday because "we are understanding and respectful of their actions today."

Allowing them to "disrupt the overall operations of the school" every day would not be allowed, he said.

"If this were to happen we may have to make different choices as administrators," he said.

School officials told the students they could stay in the library without masks, but that they could not go to the bathroom or otherwise walk through the building without putting on a mask. Most were putting on masks for bathroom trips, Williams said.

They could also call their parents to take them home, he added.