North Hills schools will require masks to start ’21-22

Masks will be required of all students and staff in the North Hills School District as long as Allegheny County is in the substantial or high phases of COVID-19 transmission.

The school board voted 6-3 on Tuesday in a resumed meeting to approve the amendment to the health and safety plan. The remainder of the back-to-school plan was approved last week, but members could not get enough votes either to require masks or to make them optional.

Masks will still be required for unvaccinated students and staff when the county moves to the moderate phase. They will not be required for anybody if the county reaches the low transmission phase.

“The North Hills School District is recommending universal masking at this time, in alignment with most other districts in our area because this approach allows us the best opportunity to provide in-person learning five days a week with minimal quarantine-based disruptions,” said board President Allison Mathis.

“In-person learning is the most important common district goal.

“While we acknowledge that some parents, students or employees might be frustrated by this decision, or may be experiencing mask fatigue, safe, full, in-person education is an extremely positive step in the right direction and the return to normalcy,” Ms. Mathis added. “Masking will allow us to offer this in-person instruction safely.”

She noted that the Allegheny County Health Department has determined studentswho wear masks do not have to quarantine if exposed to COVID-19.

Superintendent Patrick Mannarino said masks will not be required during outdoor recess or during sports and other after-school activities.

“This is about educating kids for 180 days,” Mr. Mannarino said. “I don’t want it as a parent. I was hoping we were beyond this. This is the third year now with COVID. I’m hopeful that we can get out of this and move forward without masks.”

Joining Ms. Mathis in voting for the mask mandate were Sandra Kozera, Phil Little, Annette Nolish, Deanna Philpott and Kathy Reid. Kathryn Poniatowski, Rachael Rennebeck and Dee Spade opposed it.

Mrs. Nolish asked those who disagree “to be respectful of everybody’s opinions.”

“We try to model for our kids that sometimes you have to do things that you don’t agree with,” she said. “It is part of being a community.”