NORTHAMPTON — Western Massachusetts educators and the Massachusetts Teachers Association are criticizing the quality of masks that were recently provided to teachers in the state.
“Statewide we’re very concerned,” said Nellie Taylor, who serves on the MTA’s board of directors and is a member of the Easthampton Education Association.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the MTA blasted Gov. Charlie Baker and state Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley for failures around the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Since the start of the pandemic, Governor Baker and Commissioner Riley have demonstrated gross incompetence in their failure to take vital steps to keep students, educators and communities safe,” MTA President Merrie Najimy said in the statement.
A prominent issue the MTA hit the Baker administration on was the distribution of masks that the union asserts are not up to par. The MTA has been critical of the Fujian Pageone non-medical KN95 masks the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has distributed to some educators.
Baker and DESE spokespeople assert the masks distributed are more than 87% effective, according to the union. However, the MTA said that conversations with Gregory Rutledge, an MIT professor, have confirmed that the Fujian Pageone non-medical KN95 masks distributed by DESE were not tested by MIT for efficacy when the university assisted in efforts to test masks in 2020.
“In fact, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tested the non-medical masks and found their efficacy rate to be between 25% and 45% — far lower than claimed by the state since they were distributed,” reads part of the MTA’s release.
In response to an inquiry from the Gazette, DESE shared an email that was sent out to superintendents on Tuesday.
“As you know, DESE distributed KN95 masks to districts last week. We received an update from MEMA today that some of the masks in the distribution, masks marked ‘non-medical,’ had not been tested at MIT as previously thought. All the masks that were distributed last week are KN95s and remain effective, but we are sharing this update as I know there have been additional questions from districts on the masks,” reads the emails. “KN95 masks, when worn properly per CDC and DPH guidance, are considered to be highly effective. The CDC has outlined considerations for effective mask use and important factors include having two or more layers, a snug fit against the sides of your face without gaps, and a nose wire to prevent air from exiting the top of the mask. The use of the KN95 masks is voluntary, and staff should be aware that their choice of masks is ultimately a personal decision. Teachers and staff should wear the masks according to their comfort level.”
In an interview, Najimy said that the union informally knows that several dozen school districts had the masks in question distributed to them and that this number could be higher.
One of these districts was Springfield’s and Tracy Little-Sasanecki, who serves as president of the Springfield Education Association, said that “people weren’t happy” when they learned about conversations around the masks’ efficacy. She said the masks were distributed to her district over the recent holiday weekend.
Little-Sasanecki said that she doesn’t know the extent of the distribution of the non-medical KN95s in her district, or if different masks were also distributed. She also said that she hopes the union can work with the district for better personal protective equipment (PPE) and distribution.
“We have had great communication with our district,” she said, speaking of the union’s historic relationship with the district.
Jeremy Mailloux, an MTA member who teaches at Franklin County Technical School, said that DESE only provided the non-medical KN95s in their distribution to his school this week.
“Our school got two boxes full of them,” he said.
Mailloux said that he researched the serial number on the masks’ packages, and found CDC information on their efficacy. Mailloux said that he shared this information on Facebook, and he said that it bothered him to see colleagues wearing the masks provided to them when they might have better ones at home.
Najimy said that the MTA is calling for a state agency other than DESE to take charge of PPE, COVID-19 vaccinations, boosters and testing for schools.
“We are calling on the House and Senate leadership to intervene,” Najimy said.
She also said that the union is calling for an investigation into false claims about the masks’ safety.
“Those responsible have to be held accountable for endangering students, families and educators,” the president said.
Najimy said the union wants to see the governor and education commissioner allow more flexibility for individual School Districts based on COVID-19 data.
“It’s time for the Baker Administration to stop putting public relations before public health,” Najimy said.
MTA Board of Directors member Nellie Taylor, meanwhile, said that educators want schools to be open “and they want them to be open safely.”
Bera Dunau can be reached at bdunau@gazettenet.com.