Allegheny Valley School Board votes to keep masking requirement in place

The masking requirement will remain at Allegheny Valley School District.

At a school board meeting Tuesday night, board members voted 5-4 to keep a mandatory masking policy in place, rather than switching to recommended masking.

School board member David Buchman said the board will revisit the mask requirement if improvement is seen.

Before the meeting began, one audience member was asked to leave after being asked to wear a mask. When board members left for an executive session, the person called the board members “cowards” and used expletives.

The district required masks for the school year after the school board approved its health and safety plan in August.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health in August ordered mandatory masking for all schools in the state. In December, the state Supreme Court struck down the order, returning the policy decision to school districts.

A covid tracker on the Allegheny Valley School District’s website keeps students and families updated on the latest cases. As of Jan. 14, there were 17 active cases. The school has had a total of 133 cases over the school year.

Public comments were allowed before board members voted on the agenda item. There was a split between those who were for required masking and those for recommended masking.

Ryan Pribulsky, a senior at Springdale Junior-Senior High School, said keeping the masks was in the best interest of the students.

“Continuing the mask mandate will be a positive influence on students and staff. Removing the masks could lead to an outbreak scenario,” he said.

Harmar resident Sarah Spence called for masks to be an option for students. She said masks have not made a difference.

“I am tired of the hypocrisy. The masks they are wearing now are not as effective as N95 masks,” she said.

Spence asked for contact tracing to stop if masks are continued because it is affecting students’ learning when they are sent home.

“The masks were supposed to prevent kids from going into quarantine. It’s not. They’re still being sent home,” Spence said.

Her son, Mark, a sophomore at Springdale, spoke after her.

“No matter what you guys vote for, I will not wear my mask. I will wear it around my chin if I do,” he said.

Mandy Steinsdoerfer, from the Harwick section of Springdale, wants the masking requirement to continue so her kids do not have to resort to virtual learning.

“I feel like with all the effort … stopping that now will be irresponsible,” she said.

Shauna Ecker of Cheswick said it is a matter of what parents believe is best for their children.

“It’s just acknowledging the option is there for you to choose what you want to do for your children. The option is actually a win for both,” she said.

One speaker called it hypocritical to require masks indoors at school but not for students participating in athletics or band activities.

“If you were serious about the mask, you would have the students and athletes and fans have to wear a mask,” Harmar resident Joe Bosco said.

Board member Jessica Griggle made a similar statement, asking whether masks are enforced outdoors as much as they are indoors.

“You can’t pick and choose when to keep our kids safe,” she said.

Superintendent Patrick Graczyk suggested not permitting fans at athletic events and livestreaming the games instead if enforcing masks becomes a problem. He said enforcing masks with adults would be harder to do than with students.

As the meeting was reaching adjournment, school board President Larry Pollick said the meeting showed the community cares about its school district, even though people might not always agree.

“We are going to work hard to try to give our kids the most quality education we can,” he said.