Lindenhurst BOE Votes 'No' To Mask Mandate Lawsuit

LINDENHURST, NY — Masks are here to stay for Lindenhurst students.

The Lindenhurst Board of Education voted 6-3 against suing New York state over the school mask mandate Wednesday night at Lindenhurst High School, after hearing residents testify their anger and frustration at a public meeting.

If approved, Lindenhurst Free Union School District would have joined Massapequa and Locust Valley school districts' Article 78 lawsuit, which was filed last month. The legal motion challenges the authority of Gov. Kathy Hochul for enforcing a state-wide order that face masks must be worn by schoolchildren from pre-K up to 12th grade.

For about one hour, parents, educators, and students vented their frustration to the board and audience. On several occurrences, speakers were heckled by those with opposing views, or were interrupted by verbal fights amongst other participants. On one instance, a 13-year-old student turned towards the audience while speaking at the podium, and lifted his middle finger.

The measure was met with both applause and loud opposition from participants. One man asked each board member who voted against the lawsuit to state their name so "everyone in this community knows." As each member stated their name, they received both cheers and boos from the crowd. As the board exited the building, one person from the crowd yelled: "Choke on your mask."

Melody Butler, a registered nurse and infection specialist, told the board that masks are necessary to prevent infection of COVID-19.

"We want to make sure that all children have a safe and equal opportunity to go to school in healthy environments," Butler told Patch, who is a parent of four children who attend Lindenhurst schools.

Butler, who is also a registered nurse and infection specialist, said that she is open to revisiting a mask option at a later date, if infection rates are lower.

"I've seen COVID range from very mild cases and in some people to death. We never know how it's going to affect anyone." Butler told Patch, who was escorted to her car by security when leaving the meeting. "We were not at that point where we have that leisure yet, especially with the upcoming holidays and winter season."

Heather Reado, parent of a Lindenhurst, first-grader, was one of many concerned parents at the meeting. She told Patch her son has hemiparesis, and the mask mandate has negatively affected his learning.

"He can't see his teacher, he receives speech services four days a week with masks on," said Reado, tearing up. "He's regressing."

Reado says she and other concerned parents created a petition in favor of the lawsuit. After weeks of knocking on doors and going out into the community, they gained over 400 signatures.

"We weren't asking to remove the mask mandate. The lawsuit is about parental rights," Reado told Patch. "Once you lose your rights, you're not getting them back."