Chester County Court Petitions Call For Ouster Of School Boards

WEST CHESTER — A parent of a West Chester Area School District student petitioned Chester County Court to remove the school board members over the district’s requirement for students to wear masks.
Beth Ann Rosica is seeking the removal of the board members and removal of the mandated mask policy in the petition available Thursday.

When the pandemic broke out in 2020, schools across the nation went to virtual learning. As the pandemic began winding down, students returned to school. Most school required students to wear masks.

In recent months, students and parents have been divided on the issue of requiring masks to avoid the spread of the coronavirus.

The defendants named in the West Chester civil case are Sue Tiernan, president, and directors Joyce Chester, Karen Herman, Kate Shaw, and Daryl Durnell.
Molly Schwemler, district spokeswoman, said Thursday the district and the school board are not commenting on a pending legal matter.
The case is assigned to Judge Jeffrey R. Sommer.
A similar petition was also filed regarding the Downingtown Area School District school board by parent Shannon Grady.
Grady is also seeking the removal of school board members. They are Lee Ann Wisdom, president; Caryn McCleary, vice president; and directors Jane Bertone, Joyce Houghton, and Audrey Blust.
The district officials could not immediately be reached for comment.
That case is assigned to Judge Bret M. Binder.
“Parents all over Chester County are exacerbated over the current masking policies of their school districts,” Rosica said in a press release. “Several parents have taken their frustrations to the next level by filing petitions with county court to recall those board members who voted to mask children.”
The districts' policies are in accordance with recommendations of the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In December, the state Supreme Court vacated a statewide school mask order.
Rosica said after the ruling many districts across the state set mask optional policies.
“Parents do not believe that school districts have the legal authority to forcibly mask their children,” she said.
Rosica said she and Grady are assisting parents in other school districts to file similar petitions.