Quaker Valley School District will require students to wear masks

Masks will be required at Quaker Valley School District when the new school year starts after the school board voted Tuesday at its legislative meeting to enforce the new policy.

The new guidance begins Wednesday . Faculty, staff, students and visitors must wear a mask at any of the school district’s campuses.

“We empathize with the frustration of what has become a long period of inconvenience during this historical pandemic. We do not make these decisions lightly nor in haste. However, we believe that universal masking in our schools is the most responsible decision we can make at this time. This approach will allow us to keep students in schools and give us the ability to offer on-campus instruction to all our students,” the district said in a press release.

Reasons for the changes include:

• The recommendation for universal masking indoors, regardless of vaccination status, while the region is in the “substantial” or “high” transmission range for covid-19 has been shared with the district as the most responsible course of action by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Allegheny County Health Department, local pediatricians, public health experts and other medical professionals.

• To limit disruptions to learning and other school-related activities and reduce the risk of quarantines for students and staff.

• Per the CDC and the ACHD, students who are masked and would otherwise be considered a “close contact” do not need to be quarantined if within 3 to 6 feet of a covid-19 positive individual.

“We are dedicated to reviewing the guidance presented to us, creating a safe environment for students and staff, and bringing weekly in-person learning back to our institutional practice,” said QVSD superintendent Tammy A. Andreyko.

The board and the administration said they will revisit the district’s health and safety plan and corresponding procedures and protocols frequently to respond to the ever-changing conditions of the pandemic.