Face masks will remain optional when Highlands School District students return to classes next week.

After hearing from residents for and against requiring students to wear masks Monday night, Kristie Babinsack was the only school board member wanting to reverse the board’s 5-4 decision in July that makes wearing masks voluntary for students and staff in schools.

Babinsack’s attempt to get the board to vote on requiring masks failed for lack of a second, which was necessary for it to go to a vote.

Two board members, Debbie Beale and Robert Betts, were absent.

Superintendent Monique Mawhinney said a phone call alerting parents of the board’s decision would go out to district families on Tuesday. Parents will be able to choose if they send their children to schools or have them take classes online, which Mawhinney said could have a significant impact on the district’s scheduling.

Mawhinney said Highlands will mandate masks if they are ordered.

Mawhinney said school superintendents have expressed their frustration with the Allegheny County Health Department and the state Department of Health about educators being made to make medical decisions.

“If they feel strongly about something they need to make the decision. I don’t think that’s going to happen,” she said. “At this point, it is a local decision. I will promise you we will do whatever we can to keep our kids safe.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control, Allegheny, Westmoreland and several surrounding counties now have a high level of covid-19 transmission. The highly contagious delta variant has been cited for a surge in infections across the nation.

Babinsack said other school districts are changing position and requiring masks. She also said Highlands’ own physician, Dr. Kultar Shergill, strongly recommends their use because they prevent transmission of the virus.

“I ask myself and you guys, what has changed from last year?” Babinsack said. “We’re still in this pandemic. We know that delta can and will affect vaccinated or unvaccinated kids or adults and has proven to be deadly. I’m not a doctor, however, I respect and trust them.”

“We need to be proactive,” she said. “I keep hearing people say that we will change this plan when there’s a mandate happening. That’s not going to happen. It is in our hands. We took an oath to do what is in the best interest of the students and the staff. Their health and safety is what should be the priority here.”

Board President Bobbie Neese said that, at this time, she is for choice on masks.

“It’s so hard,” she said. “I’m not a health expert. I do not think it’s fair that the nine of us are tasked with this.”

Board member Kelli Canonge said comments the district has received are split 50/50 on the issue.

“People are very, very, very torn on very opposite ends of the subject matter. There are very few people who sit in the middle and say this isn’t a big deal at all. People have really strong opinions on both ends,” she said. “The reason why I lean with the choice to be with the parents is because I think that likely we could have a mandate coming up and we won’t have that option presented to us anymore anyway.”

The Highlands school year is scheduled to start Aug. 26.

Bullying over face masks was raised as a concern. Mawhinney said it will not be tolerated.

“Kids should not be bullied for either deciding to wear a mask or not,” she said. “We know bullying happens. If it’s not reported to us then we can’t deal with it. It’s up to the parents to let the principals know if there is bullying going on.”

Board member Laura Butler suggested the district reconvene its task force to consider the issue again. Mawhinney said that could be done within the next couple of weeks, which would give an opportunity for the school year to start and the board could discuss when it meets in September.

Butler said the district is in a no-win situation.

“We’re giving the parents the responsibility to be adults and do the right thing for this community. If they don’t, we can’t control that,” she said.

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