Vaccine mandate sparks public outcry

BELCHERTOWN – The School Committee meeting was host to over 140 virtual and in person attendees at its recent meeting due to a proposed vaccine mandate policy which would require students interested in participating in extracurricular activities or rostered events that occur outside of credited curriculum.

During the meeting, there was a 40-minute public comment period. At one point the School Committee Chair Heidi Gutekenst held a five-minute recess due to outbursts from members of the in-person audience.

Most people who spoke during public comment were against the mandate.

The School Committee had its first reading of the vaccine mandate policy and will vote whether to adopt the policy at its meeting on Nov. 2.

The meeting was originally scheduled for Oct. 26 but was reschedules to “allow School Committee members more time to review materials,” according to Gutekenst.

During the committee’s discussion of the policy, School Committee member Mike Knapp proposed an amendment to the policy to “require those who are eligible for an FDA approved vaccine.”

According to the draft policy parents would provide immunization information to the district.

Superintendent Brian Cameron said during a subcommittee meeting discussing the policy, clarity as far as extracurricular activities were needed.

“Things like graduation came up, school dances, Student Council – things like that came up. I think if we create a guide for people, so everybody has clarity on that,” Cameron said. “We have to put some kind of statement out there, at least people would be on the same page in regard to what is expected.”

School Committee member Amy LaMothe said she wanted to highlight a section of the proposed policy.

“Students or family will be able to meet with a public health professional or attend a question-and-answer meeting to discuss the vaccine in advance of the deadline,” she said. “We wanted to put out there for any parent/guardian, adult or student who has any questions concerns that you'd like to bring to somebody and have them addressed.”

During public comment residents shared their views on the vaccination policy, some called for its removal altogether.

Resident Janelle Soucia said the policy should be voted down.

“To begin a parent's right to choose does not mean you're anti-vaxxers. On the contrary, many parents here opposing this mandate, have been fully vaccinated with a COVID-19 shot and want the right to choose for their child,” she said. “We now know, a fully vaccinated person can get COVID-19 and affect others…If these children cannot participate in sports, or after school activities without a vaccine, then you have robbed them of some of the most enjoyable, influential and critical times of your life. Our children's mental health must be considered.”

Resident Michael Chotkowski said as a parent he wanted to wait to have his child vaccinated until he had more information.

“For me, there's just not been enough time to measure any long-term negative effects that might have on children, children that are still in the process of maturing and growing,” he said. “It takes students who have already experienced social distancing, who have lost important social developing years, as well as the ability to preserve interests away from returning to a sense of normalcy. As a parent and a teacher, I see these years, so imperative to development of the whole child. Extracurricular activities are essential to that development. It's being withheld despite the fact that students would be following the same protocols as a regular school day in which they're in contact with the greater population.”

There were also residents who spoke in favor of the vaccine mandate as well.

Resident Dan Laragy said he is a nurse at the Holyoke Soldier’s Home and spoke from his personal experience. He said he believed the precautions taken by the schools weren’t enough to stop the spread and called for the mandate.

“I bring to it my own experience with limited precautions and safety protocols that were in place and knowledge of the really horrific, rapid spread of viruses that can occur in a closed system, like where I work, or even on a sports team, and how that affects the greater community, not just those immediately involved in that activity or in that institution,” he said.