N. Allegheny board ends session due to the unmasked

The North Allegheny school board adjourned its meeting Wednesday after residents refused to comply with a federal restraining order requiring masks in district buildings.

U.S. District Judge Marilyn Horan issued the order Monday, making it effective that day.

But some in the audience refused to put on the masks that were provided in the back of the senior high school auditorium Wednesday. The meeting had been moved there after 80 people packed into the board room last week to debate masking.

“We are mandated under federal court order to wear a mask in North Allegheny until further notice,” said board President Andrew Chomos, declining to call the meeting to order until everybody complied with the order. “We can sit here and look at each other all night.”

Solicitor Alfred Maiello said district officials have no choice but to obey the judge’s order.

“This has nothing to do with whether I am pro or anti. This has nothing to do with masks. I am a judicial officer of the court and I have to enforce a court order. This is the court order,” he said, holding up the order.

The comments from Mr. Chomos and Mr. Maiello were met with cheers and applause as well as boos and jeers.

The board then went into executive session for 25 minutes.

When they returned, board member Scott Russell tried to equate wearing a mask in the meeting with visiting a medical facility that requires masking.

But his comments were drowned out by heckling and jeers.

“All right, have a good night. We’ll see you in September,” Mr. Chomos said, adjourning the meeting.

Eighty-one parents and students had signed up to speak on the mask mandate Wednesday.

Superintendent Melissa Friez updated the health and safety plan Aug. 16 to require masks.

But the school board voted, 6-3, five days later to make masks optional. The item was not on the board’s voting agenda. An item on Wednesday’s agenda would have rescinded the resolution passed by the board last week.

Sunday night, a group of 11 students and 11 parents asked federal court for the restraining order to force the district to mandate masks.

School began for students in North Allegheny on Monday.

Alexandra Wimley/Post-Gazette People hold signs and chant Wednesday night during a North Allegheny school board meeting regarding the district’s mask policy at North Allegheny Senior High School in McCandless.