Almost since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic when the Centers for Disease Control and other government officials began asking Americans to wear masks (there was a time when they actually said masks weren’t necessary) to help save lives and stop the spread of the virus, masks have been an issue of debate between mask wearers and anti-maskers.

Now, with schools open or soon-to-open, the wearing of masks has become an issue of debate between school boards and parents of school age children.

As the number and hospitalizations of children affected by COVID-19 are increasing, school boards across America are facing the tough decision whether to require students and staff to wear masks in schools, on school buses and at school events.

Pennsylvania school boards have been no exception to these mask debates.

According to an Aug. 6 Associated Press article titled ‘Governor says he won’t require masks in Pennsylvania schools,’ “Gov. Tom Wolf on Friday ruled out a mask requirement for Pennsylvania schools as the academic year is about to begin, saying he will leave the decision to school districts.”

Wolf is further quoted in the article saying, “I think the school districts in Pennsylvania have to decide what they want to do. I think the CDC guidelines strongly recommend that schools do that. They’re not mandating it, and neither am I.”

Local school boards have been revising their masking policies for students and staff as case counts of COVID-19 increase.

On Aug. 19, the Parkland School District administration issued the following letter, which states in part:

“ ... The Parkland School District will implement an Indoor Face Coverings Decision Making Matrix. Based upon this matrix, Parkland School District is currently in Tier 3. Tier 3 represents the highest level of district concern for the spread of COVID-19.

“In Tier 3, all K-12 students, staff, and visitors are required to wear face coverings, while indoors, regardless of vaccination status ...”

The next day, Northwestern Lehigh Superintendent Jennifer Holman issued the following letter regarding the school district’s Health and Safety Plan to families in the community.

“Throughout this pandemic, we have been committed to evaluating national, state, county and local data and guidance to make informed decisions on our district’s approach to this disease.

“I am not pleased to share that our local data for the Northwestern Lehigh geographic area indicates that COVID-19 case counts entered and remained in substantial for the past two reporting periods.

“As a result, we will institute a change to the Health and Safety Plan that will include an indoor Face Covering Tiered Mitigation Measures Matrix.

“The purpose of this decision matrix is to provide the Northwestern Lehigh School District the ability to enact a level of face coverings determined by local data and other metrics.

“Based upon our current data, Northwestern Lehigh will be instituting Tier 2 (Targeted) of this plan whereby students and staff, regardless of vaccination status, will be required to wear a face covering in specific locations (transportation, nurse and athletic training suites, and hallways) as defined in the matrix ...”

As of Aug. 17, East Penn School District issued the following statement “At this time, we have made the decision to amend our current COVID masking policy.

“In order to maintain consistent, in-person learning as much as possible, East Penn will now require all students, staff, and visitors to wear masks indoors at all of our school buildings and on school buses regardless of vaccination status. This requirement goes into effect Aug. 18. The decision to require masks in schools is based on current conditions, including “high” level of COVID transmission in Lehigh County and the opportunity for students to be vaccinated ... ”

The Salisbury Township School District revised its 2021 ARP/ESSER Health and Safety Plan to make face coverings/masks mandatory for all students, staff and visitors effective Aug. 19.

According to the school district’s revised health and safety plan face coverings/masks will also be required on school buses.

As of press time, Catasauqua, Whitehall-Coplay and Northampton school districts have implemented the following mask guidelines for staff and students.

Catasauqua School District is recommending universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status. Regarding transportation, masks must be worn by passengers and drivers on school buses.

Students will also be physically distanced when possible, and the windows will be opened to improve ventilation when feasible.

Whitehall-Coplay School Board, at the Aug. 9 meeting, approved the school district’s revised 2021 ARP/ESSER Health and Safety Plan, effective Aug. 10, which allows for optional masking for students and staff when classes begin Aug. 30.

When schools open Aug. 30 for classes in Northampton Area School District for 2021-22, face masks will be required for students, staff and visitors. The school board voted 8-0 (with one vacancy) at the Aug. 23 meeting to require masks in buildings and at events on district campuses.

The face mask requirement will be reevaluated Oct. 1, according to a school official. The board vote reversed previous announcements by the administration that face masks would be optional when the school year starts.

I know it is important for local school districts to protect our children while they are at school, on school buses or at school events, and it is our job as parents and guardians to decide what is best for our children.

While masks have been an issue of debate throughout the pandemic and may be required within some school districts and optional at others, they are one way of stopping the spread of COVID-19 in young children until they can be vaccinated.

Susan Bryant

editorial assistant

Parkland Press

Northwestern Press

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