Chartiers Valley ‘strongly’ recommends, but is not requiring, masks in school

The Chartiers Valley School District i s “strongly recommending” face masks be worn indoors, but the district will not make masks a requirement for the start of the 2021-22 school year.

The school board at its Tuesday meeting decided to keep the district’s current health- and- safety plan in place.

“Essentially, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s most recent recommendations, [Chartiers Valley School District] is strongly recommending that masks be worn indoors in order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and keep students, faculty and staff in school ,” district“ spokesperson Mikaela Duckstein said. “As masks are not mandated by county, state or federal governing agencies, masks will not be required in school,” she said. Ms. Duckstein added per the Allegheny County Health Department, individuals who are identified as having had close contact with someone who is positive with COVID-19 are exempt from having to quarantine provided they are asymptomatic and were wearing a mask at the time of contact. However, those who are unmasked and have had close contact will have to quarantine for five to 10 days regardless of vaccination status. In other words, wearing a mask can significantly impact the ability for our students and staff to remain in school for 180 days this year,” Ms. Duckstein said.

She added while the current board-approved health- and- safety plan does not require the wearing of masks, the district will strongly encourage and expect students, staff and faculty to wear a mask while inside school buildings.

Masks will be required on district school buses, as the federal mandate requires all individuals to wear masks on public transportation, including school buses and vans.