North Allegheny reverses policy that would have let parents decide about masks in class

The North Allegheny School District is reversing its initial plans to let parents decide whether their children wear masks when they return from summer break to full, in-person instruction on Monday.

The district’s plan to leave the mask decision up to parents was developed during the summer and approved by the board to meet a deadline to submit it to the state Department of Education for review, according to district officials.

At the time, the state had lifted its mask mandate and the coronavirus transmission rate was declining.

“Earlier this summer, we were hopeful that the upcoming school year would be less impacted by the covid-19 global pandemic,” district officials wrote in a letter to parents.

“In order to honor the commitment to five days of in-person instruction and the need for our students to return to school to a safe environment with as few interruptions as possible, NASD will require face coverings indoors for students, staff and visitors for grades K-12 beginning Monday, Aug. 16.”

The return-to-school plan approved by the board in June gave the superintendent the power to change the mask policy and take other steps to slow the spread of coronavirus without the need for board approval, according to a district spokeswoman.

Superintendent Melissa Friez is scheduled to outline the revised plan at the board’s meeting at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 18.

District officials said the decision to change the mask policy is based on an analysis of covid-19 data from the last school year along with county and community statistics from the past month.

The Allegheny County Health Department and the district physician also were consulted when crafting the revised policy.

District officials also cited guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Allegheny County Health Department that students who wear masks and remain between 3- and 6-feet apart would not have to be quarantined if they come into contact with a person who has tested positive for covid-19.

There were 421 positive covid-19 cases reported last year among students and 120 among staff.

Last school year, the district issued 9,293 quarantine notices to students and staff who tested positive for coronavirus or were in close contact with an infected person while inside, or outside, of school.

Among students, 1,286 had to be quarantined at least twice, 653 were quarantined three times and 262 were quarantined four times.

An additional 38 students in the district had to undergo quarantine six or more times, including one student who was quarantined nine times.

Among the staff, 519 were quarantined, which includes 362 who had to stay home one time and 157 who were quarantined twice.

Even though the state has lifted the mask requirement and 6-foot distancing during lunches, the policy approved in June already required NA students to be seated at least 3-feet apart while eating.

The policy also calls for students and staff members to socially distance as much as possible when in hallways and stairways, and students will be provided with locations at each school to store athletic and instrumental gear.

Staff also will be asked not to gather in communal spaces such as copier rooms and teacher lounges during breaks or planning sessions.

If the district is required to reduce the density in its buildings because of covid-19 spread, it plans to switch to a hybrid instructional model that was used last year.

During hybrid, half the students attend on Mondays and Tuesday and the other half goes on Thursdays and Fridays. All students attend remotely on Wednesdays during hybrid learning.

Full remote instruction could kick in if health officials determine that the community is at a “heightened risk” for contracting the virus.

District officials noted that remote instruction differs from the NA Cyber Academy because it is an extension of in-person classes that are taught by a student’s classroom teacher and mimics the school day whenever possible.

An outline of the revised policy that will be presented during the Aug. 18 school board meeting can be viewed on the district’s website. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. and will be held in-person as well as lived-streamed.