NA schools plan to institute mask mandate
Order would apply to all students and staff
The North Allegheny School District is now planning to require that all students and staff wear masks when school begins.
The updated health and safety plan was posted on the district’s website Friday and will take effect when teachers start on Monday. School starts for students on Aug. 23.
The letter, signed by Superintendent Melissa Friez, says that officials analyzed COVID-19 data from the last school year, as well as county and community statistics over the past month, and consulted with the Allegheny County Health Department and the district physician.
A back-to-school plan, which made masks optional, was approved by the school board in June. The updated plan will be presented to the board on Wednesday.
“Ensuring students are at school for in-person learning remains our top priority as we begin the 2021-2022 school year.” Ms. Friez said. “We understand
and recognize that there are varying opinions within our community regarding mitigation strategies. One common theme is that we all want the same thing: a high-quality educational experience in an environment that is safe and welcoming for all students, staff and families.”
Meanwhile, in the West Mifflin Area School District, masks will be required for all students, teachers and staff, regardless of vaccination status, for the start of the school year. School begins in the district on Aug. 24.
The school board voted 6-2 on Thursday to approve the district’s health and safety plan, which includes the mask requirement. Board members Matthew Blazevich, Judith Ahern, Bill Bennett, Gina Englert, Debbie Kostelnik and Erin White voted in favor of the motion. Jonathan Mattis and Tony DiCenzo voted against.
“This task is very complex ,” said Superintendent Jeffrey So les. “There’s a lot of thinking that goes into this. And it’s very upsetting that our state, our county sort of pawned these decisions off to a governing body that does not specialize in medicine or the medical field,” he said.
Mr. Soles said after sitting in on several meetings with the Allegheny County Health Department, the administration made the decision to recommend starting off the school year fully masked. Students will be able to remove masks at lunch and while outside for recess or other activities. Masks are mandatory on school buses.
He pointed out that if everyone is fully masked, individuals do not have to quarantine or do contact tracing if they come into close contact with someone with COVID-19 in the school.
Masks will be required in district buildings as long as Allegheny County remains in the “substantial” rate of community transmission for COVID19. If the county falls below “substantial,” Mr. Soles said masks will be “highly recommended” but optional.
Mr. DiCenzo said he believed masks should be a “family decision” and up to each individual family whether their child wears a mask to school. Mr. Mattis agreed.