Highlands students will continue to wear masks through at least mid-January, regardless of an impending state Supreme Court ruling that could scrap the state mandate by Gov. Tom Wolf.

The school board on Monday voted to keep masking policies in place for students, teachers and visitors on all district campuses to provide continuity in education, it said.

“Students need to be in class,” board member Kelli Canonge said. “Kids are finally getting to enjoy group activities. They need to be able to interact, not over Zoom.

“If we are without masks and only follow social distancing, we are going to have a collapse.”

The vote was 6-3, with board members Nicole Kocon, Gene Witt and Judy Wisner voting against mask-wearing.

Highlands School Board meets next Jan. 10 for an agenda session and then Jan. 17 for a voting session. It could modify the district’s health and safety plan at that time to make masks optional.

Resident James Powell applauded the decision, saying masks are an effective tool to maintain normalcy.

“Since the masks were mandated, we haven’t had any shutdowns,” Powell said. “Keep the kids in school. That’s where they learn best.”

Resident Shane Chesher opposed the move, saying it infringes on everyone’s freedom.

“I’m big on freedom of choice,” he said. “It serves everyone.”

Chesher recently made news for being terminated from his Allegheny County Parks Department job for refusing to be vaccinated.

He was among a number of county employees fired after a deadline passed to submit proof of vaccination or receive a qualified exemption.

“Choice serves both parties,” Chesher said. “The mandate only serves one side.”

School board member Kristie Babinsack supported the full-time mask policy because, she said, it positively impacts not only education, but also economics.

“I fear parents will have to miss work if kids are at home, and many parents can’t afford that,” she said. “The teachers have expressed their desire to have students masked for group instruction, partner work, class parties and field trips. I feel masks are the best defense we have against covid and, as a board member, I have an obligation to keep the students and staff safe.”

Babinsack noted children ages 5 to 11 are only starting to have the opportunity to be vaccinated, so the mask policy will allow time for those families who want the shot.

“If we decide to go back to mask-optional in January, then at least everyone will have had the opportunity to get the vaccine,” she said.

Canonge said if students return to school in January and cases are high, the policy can remain in place.

Superintendent Monique Mawhinney said the case count after the district’s five-day Thanksgiving break was alarming.

“The numbers were significant,” she said of the 18 total confirmed covid-19 cases during the week of Nov. 29.

“When people leave school, they don’t have to wear masks. Those numbers are real, and I think we can expect the same after winter break.”

Mawhinney said the district has to keep the safety of students as its top priority.

“I respect both viewpoints and, hopefully, there will come a day when we look back and wonder how we survived it,” she said.

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