There are seven candidates on the ballot for four seats on the Northwestern Lehigh School Board. James Warfel notified The Press, however, that he was not running for office.

The Press asked the candidates the following question.

“Once a COVID-19 vaccine is approved for all children, should that be added to the required vaccines needed to attend school? Should all staff be required to be vaccinated?” Please explain.

Alan L. Rex

Q: Once a COVID-19 vaccine is approved for all children, should that be added to the required vaccines needed to attend school?

A: As we all know specific vaccinations are required for children to attend school here in Pennsylvania. The specific vaccine requirements are set by the state and then sent to the local school districts for compliance. Once the experts at the Pennsylvania Department of Health determine that the COVID vaccine is safe and effective for all children this will be their decision to add this vaccine to the list of required vaccines. The vaccines for polio and measles have worked very well so lets hope the pharmaceutical industry can come through again.

Q: Should all staff be required to be vaccinated?

A: If this can be mutually agreed to in the collective barging agreement then I’m all for it.

Lauren Hunsicker

The DOH determines vaccination requirements for children to attend school and school boards do not have the authority to mandate vaccinations. As a pharmacist, I will encourage children and teachers to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Our state officials are engaging in actions that can be considered government overreach and I firmly believe the decision for vaccination against COVID-19 should be made by individuals and parents. A decision considered to be right for one person may not be the right option for another. Parents should have the right to decide what is best for their child and take action accordingly.

Melissa Arifaj

Q: Once a COVID-19 vaccine is approved for all children, should that be added to the required vaccines needed to attend school? Should all staff be required to be vaccinated? Please explain.

A: No. Absolutely not. Personal health and medical choices should always be left up to the individual/guardian. Every person should have the freedom to make the best decisions for themselves. I vehemently oppose any type of mandate for students or staff.

Becky Hite

A: As a school board, we are tasked with making important decisions for the district ranging from reviewing the budget to establishing policy. Vaccine requirements for school age students come from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, not your local school board. Our Northwestern staff has been nothing short of amazing during this pandemic, with one obstacle after another thrown at them. The decision to vaccinate should be a personal choice made in conjunction with their physician.

Todd Hernandez

A: There are misconceptions about the authority school boards actually have relative to public health issues. School boards do not determine vaccines required for school attendance. That said, I do not support adding a COVID-19 vaccine to the required vaccine list, nor do I support mandated vaccination of staff for COVID-19. I do not support the governor’s reversal which mandated masking and I believe decisions should be made at local levels with community and parent input. I am required by my oath to uphold legally binding mandates. I do not support mandates that take away any parents’ freedoms or harm any children. Contact your legislators to change the mandates.

Jennifer Senavaitis

A: It is my personal belief that parents and school employees should have the choice whether they get vaccinated or not. There are many considerations to be made before choosing to take a vaccination. What is good for one is not always good for another. Both parents and school employees understand the risks on both sides of vaccinated vs unvaccinated. It is not the role of the school or the Department of Education to require a vaccination, taking away the choice of an individual.”

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Editor’s note: James Warfel notified The Press that he was not running for school board.