Face masks to be mandatory for students, staff at New Kensington-Arnold

Face masks will be mandatory when the new school year starts in the New Kensington-Arnold School District, Superintendent Chris Sefcheck said Thursday.

The requirement will apply to all students and staff, he said. Masks will be required in schools and on buses.

The district is planning on providing five day, in-person instruction when classes resume on Aug. 31.

Sefcheck said the mask requirement is based on the four levels of covid transmission in the community — low, moderate, substantial and high.

Masks would be optional with proof of vaccination in schools only at the low level. They are mandatory on buses at all transmission levels.

Masks also will be required at all levels for spectators at indoor sports and activities. They would be optional with proof of vaccination at outdoor sports and activities only at low transmission level.

Westmoreland County is currently at the substantial level of transmission.

“We feel it’s important we suggest the safest alternative, which is masking,” Sefcheck said. “Masks will be required to start the school year.”

The school board approved the district’s updated health and safety plan Thursday without discussion or debate by a vote of 8-0. Board member Steven Sorch participated remotely; member Chelsea Stone was absent.

No residents spoke for or against the mask requirement.

It was in stark contrast to many other districts across the region and the country, where debate over whether face masks should be required has been heated.

With no statewide mandate, decisions on face masks vary by district.

Fox Chapel Area School Board voted to require masks at all grade levels. Mt. Lebanon School District also is requiring masks, whether people are vaccinated or not.

The North Allegheny School District will not require its students and staff to wear masks on school campuses, but they will be required on buses.

Masks will be optional at Deer Lakes, where Superintendent Janell Logue-Belden said a community survey found residents wanted a choice.

At Greensburg Salem, masks will be recommended for all staff, students and visitors in buildings.

The Highlands School Board may revisit its decision on masks when it meets in person in the library at Highlands High School at 7 p.m. on Monday. Masks were set be optional when the board cast a split 5-4 vote on its health and safety plan in July.