Despite the Omicron variant of COVID-19 leaving local hospitals overwhelmed and schools and businesses dramatically short-staffed due to the past month’s exponential increase in the virus’ spread, some board and community members were unhappy that - in light of recent similar decisions by school boards in the Southern Lehigh and Quakertown districts - a potential vote on fully-optional masking for students and staff did not appear on the Jan. 11 Saucon Valley School Board meeting agenda.

Rather, the brief meeting focused primarily on routine business. Student government representative Avia Weber, a senior at the high school, provided an update on student body matters. Some high school students have expressed a desire to improve communication and relations between the school board and the student body at recent meetings.

Board member Edward Andres has recently led the charge to amend the district’s Health and Safety Plan to no longer require masking under any circumstances. He and several attendees chose once again to either not wear any face covering or, in Andres’ case, wear one under his chin for most of the meeting.

(The district’s website states, “During the (school board) meetings, the district will follow applicable health and safety mitigation measures… Such measures will include social distancing and appropriate face coverings.”)

Andres suggested addressing the issue of masking at the next meeting, which will take place Jan. 25. “I think it should be advertised to the public…” and at minimum brought up for debate, he said, even if no action is taken that evening.

He further claimed that the Omicron variant is “mild” and, citing a Sunday article in an unnamed “local paper,” said it’s been proven that masks generally do not protect against contracting the virus (or, in his words, at best only offer “five minutes of protection”).

Despite minimal pushback from his fellow board members, Andres’ claims have been proven untrue, as certain types of maks – such as medical-grade N95 and KN95 masks – have repeatedly been shown to provide significantly better protection against all airborne pathogens, including COVID-19.

Ultimately, the board displayed hesitation in committing to any action anytime soon, with Bryan Eichfeld - who has consistently voiced his objection to mandatory masking under any circumstances and insisted that the number of children made seriously ill from COVID was “statistically insignificant” - saying the current moment (likely at the Omicron variant’s peak of spread) was “tough.”