A group of Monroe County parents is speaking out against the planned COVID-19 testing of some students at area schools.

“What matters here is that we need accountability, we need to know, why are we subjecting our children to this?" said Christina Higley of Webster. 

What You Need To Know

  • A group of Monroe County parents is speaking out against the planned COVID-19 testing of some students at area schools

  • They are opposing the county’s plan to test school children as part of the state's micro cluster initiative, which makes testing mandatory

  • Dozens of parents had their voices heard before the Monroe County Legislature 

She is one of dozens of parents looking for answers, and publicly opposing the county’s plan to test school children as part of the state's micro cluster initiative, which makes testing mandatory.

“The children, man, I mean they're just being so punished," said Higley. 

She is mom to three school-age children, a business owner, and now the leader of a group called ROC for Educational Freedom, which calls for the safe reopening of schools.

The group is 4,500 members strong and growing as members want their voices heard. They say they’ve been silenced and ignored for months.

"Parents are expressing frustration that they're calling [Monroe County Executive Adam] Bello’s office, they're calling Dr. Michael Mendoza, and they're not getting any response back," said Higley.

But silenced no more, as dozens of parents had their voices heard before the Monroe County Legislature (albeit through their emails being read) during Tuesday night’s meeting.

It follows the county’s announcement that, due to the increase in local COVID-20 cases, that 20 percent of students and staff will have to be tested every week.

“The testing prevalence in our schools will be very important in offering data to us as we decide how to proceed in the coming weeks and months…. This will give us important surveillance data in the schools and will allow us to have better understanding of what the community prevalence is," said Monroe County Commissioner of Public Health Dr. Michael Mendoza.

Here are some snippets from a few of the emails read during the county legislature meeting:

  • “Our children should not be treated like lab rats."
  • “Whatever the agenda, find another specimen for your data.”
  • “They are not convenient samples. Medical testing is not the place for schools. It’s overreach, atrocious and disgusting.”
  • “Mandatory COVID testing of healthy children for the sake of numbers is unethical and traumatizing to our children.”

“We have that right as citizens to be able to take part in those public forums and to be able to submit our comments and concerns and such. I think it was really eye opening for the legislators too, and I think that it brings to their attention that maybe we need to have some more accountability and transparency and what is going on at Adam Bello and Mike Mendoza's offices," said Higley.

The county has previously said its goal is to prevent the spread of Coronavirus throughout the community and to not fall prey to "COVID apathy." But ROC for Educational Freedom believes children are already stressed enough, and testing at school will create even more anxiety for many youngsters who are struggling to cope during this difficult time.

“We don't want them to feel stressed or worried that they have to take this test. In addition to distancing and masking and the great responsibility that they carry at this point of having to balance hybrid learning and such. And having their lives so upside down already for eight months," said Higley.

Testing in Monroe County schools is expected to begin by the end of this week.