North Allegheny School District mum on Gov. Wolf's mask mandate

Gov. Tom Wolf’s Aug. 31 announcement that a mask mandate for all schools will go into effect Sept. 7 means it’s business as usual for students in North Allegheny School District because students are already required to wear masks there.

No public comments on the matter will be made from the district, as North Allegheny officials are unable to comment on any mask-related mandates or issues due to the pending litigation involving a restraining order, according to North Allegheny spokesperson Brandi Smith.

The order stems from action when the North Allegheny school board voted 6 to 3 on Aug. 18 to change NA administration’s imposed mask requirement, made just prior to the start of the school year, and district officials were permitted to make changes to its health and safety plan without board approval.

Per the board’s decision, students had the voluntary mask option just one day, as a group of parents and students filed a lawsuit seeking an injunction on that decision.

A judge ruled the board’s actions didn’t follow due process and since Aug. 24, all students are required to wear masks.

The Sept. 22 meeting will now be virtual and at 5 p.m.

The school board declined to comment on whether discussion will be held on the masks at the upcoming meeting. The agenda will be posted online to the public by the evening of Sept. 20, according to the school board secretary.

The new state Secretary of Health order requires masks to be worn inside for students in kindergarten through 12th grade, early learning programs and child care providers, according to the governor’s website.

The order also applies to cyber charter schools, private and parochial schools, career and technical centers, and intermediate units.

Smith said NA community members can keep up with North Allegheny’s own 2021-2022 covid-19 tracker updated daily on the school website.

There have been 68 confirmed positive cases as of Sept. 1, according to the tracker. However, Smith said that reporting began in early August, once students and staff started returning to school grounds whether for sporting events, band or work.

She also pointed out that many of those covid cases could have originated outside of NA buildings, but students and staff are asked to provide any positive case no matter where they think they contracted the virus.

Smith said that NA wants to provide full transparency and is relaying any confirmed positive cases on its website.

Of the 68 cases, 61 were students and seven were staff, resulting in 101 students and four staff quarantining as of press time on Sept. 1, according to the tracker.