By ED SALVAS
About two dozen parents gathered across from Ocean Township Intermediate School on West Park Avenue Tues., June 1 carrying signs urging school officials to relax the order that township students wear masks.
Organizer Renee Ackerson said a Facebook petition urging Ocean School Superintendent Dr. James Stefankiewicz to send a letter to Governor Phil Murphy pointing out that there have been no Covid deaths in anyone under 18 years old. According to Ackerson, the superintendent has declined to do so, telling the parents they should write to Murphy.
The parents have also been unable to take their case to the Board of Education which has been holding only virtual meetings. Todd Hundley, who lives in the West Allenhurst section of the township, sent an email invitation to each member of the Board of Education. It reads in part:
“While every parent in attendance will give their personal reason for why this mandatory mandate should end, we can all agree that going forward the use of face masks in Ocean Township schools should be voluntary. I look forward to your response and meeting you on Tuesday afternoon.”
Hundley said none of the board members attended the gathering. But he’s confident there are many township parents who share the view that masks should be voluntary, but are unwilling to come forward.
