Masks no longer required in West Chester Area schools

Masks will be optional for students and staff starting June 28, wrote Dr. Jim Scanlon, Superintendent of the West Chester Area School District, as part of a recent letter to parents.

“As we near the end of the school year, we are also nearing the end of many mitigation strategies related to the pandemic,” Scanlon said. “We have been told that Pennsylvania is still on track to lift the masking order on June 28.”

From June 14 to June 27 vaccinated adults do not need to wear

a mask inside or outside on school grounds. The district will not ask for any kind of verification for vaccines. More than 90 percent of the staff has been vaccinated. Masks will be optional.

This week the CDC issued guidance saying unvaccinated children should still wear masks, but due to the low incident rates in Chester County, the Chester County Health Department has said it supports masks being optional for school summer programs. While this could change, Scanlon is very hopeful that positivity and incidence rates will remain very low in the region and masks will not be required.

Parents will continue to be updated.

“This has been an extremely long, challenging year, and we are all looking forward to a much more normal summer and fall,” Scanlon said. “I want to once again thank the extremely dedicated, caring, passionate staff of our school district, our very supportive and involved parents, and our students who have simply been amazing.

“I hope everyone has a wonderful summer. Brighter days are ahead!”

SUBMITTED PHOTO Students take to the books in a West Chester Area School District classroom.