State issues mask mandate for students

By Taylor Brown

tbrown@yourmvi.com

Starting next week, students across the state will be required to mask up before heading to class. 

On Tuesday, Gov. Tom Wolf announced a new order that will require masks to be worn inside K-12 school buildings, early learning programs and child care providers.

The Department of Health order will take effect Sept. 7 and will require students, teachers and staff to wear masks when inside, regardless of vaccination status. It will not apply to student-athletes during game play or other outdoor activities. 

Wolf said the order is necessary to protect students and others as the delta variant of COVID-19 continues to spread at a rapid rate.

“My office has received an outpouring of messages from parents asking the administration to protect all children by requiring masks in schools,” said Wolf said. “The science is clear. The delta variant is highly transmissible and dangerous to the unvaccinated, many of whom are children too young to receive the vaccine. Requiring masks in schools will keep our students safer and in the classroom, where we all want them to be.”

As schools reopened over the past few weeks across the Mon Valley, districts have taken different approaches on the issue. 

Charleroi Area and Monessen required masks for the start of the school year, opting to re-evaluate frequently as community spread changed. 

Belle Vernon Area, Ringgold, McKeesport Area, Elizabeth Forward and South Allegheny made masks optional for students and staff,  but “highly” recommended them based on state Department of Education and Centers for Disease Control guidelines. 

In California, masks were optional for students, but required for all teachers and staff members. 

Monessen School District Superintendent Dr. Leanne Spazak said the mandate won’t affect much in her district.

“This won’t change anything, but it will make it easier to continue with masks,” Spazak said. “We were re-evaluating every month. This will make it a lot easier for a lot of districts. I’m glad he finally did it. We were getting a lot of pressure to change back. This is a public health issue.”

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