For a second straight school board meeting, parents hounded the Pleasant Valley School Board about mask wearing in school and other issues.

At the last meeting, it went on for nearly two hours; this time, the meeting was halted abruptly just minutes in when the shouting became too loud.

“Shame on you. Shame on you. You do not represent the views of this community, of the taxpayers, of the parents. Shame on you,” said Kevin Neary of Jonas, Polk Township.

The regular meeting resumed after a break.

During public comment at the end of the meeting, Leia Leuthardt of Chestnuthill Township said the parents have the right to decide if they want their child to wear a mask.

“We want our rights and we’re going to take them,” she said.

In recent days, several school districts have decided to implement universal mask wearing, which requires all personnel and students to wear a mask inside school buildings.

Some of the districts include Easton, Bethlehem, Lehighton, Palmerton, Parkland, Schuylkill Valley and the Allentown Diocese.

The Pleasant Valley School Board opted to stick with its original Health and Safety Plan and keep mask wearing optional.

The plans were required to be submitted to the state by July 31.

According to the state Department of Health, on Thursday, there were an additional 3,333 people who were confirmed to be COVID-19 positive.

In this area, the highest daily count of COVID-19 cases this week according to the state DOH, and its equivalent last year when masks were mandatory are:

• Carbon County: 30 people; last year this week, 2;

• Lehigh County: 158 people; last year this week, 20;

• Monroe County: 55 people; last year this week, 7;

• Northampton County: 137 people; last year this week, 21, and;

• Schuylkill County: 33 people; last year this week, 5.

At prior Pleasant Valley School Board meetings, parents have told the directors that studies they have found show that wearing masks increase the levels of carbon dioxide being breathed in by the students and increases tooth decay.

“As we know for many years, health care providers have worn masks for extended periods of time with no adverse health reactions. The CDC recommends wearing cloth masks while in public, and this option is very breathable. There is no risk of hypoxia,” said Dr. Gohar Ashraf, a pediatrician with Lehigh Valley Health Network. “Carbon dioxide will freely diffuse through your mask as you breathe.”

As far as tooth decay, Ashraf said, “Not at all. Although, people when wear mask should take care of their hydration.”

Since the primary election in May, Gov. Tom Wolf’s use of emergency powers has been restricted. Pennsylvania voters approved two ballot questions proposed by Republican lawmakers to amend the state constitution and restrict the governor’s emergency powers.