Riverview School District to require students, staff, visitors to wear masks to start school year

Riverview School District students and staffers will start the new school year Thursday wearing masks.

The requirement is part of the district’s updated health and safety plan.

Superintendent Neil English said multiple factors were considered when making the mask mandate. Among them are recommendations from the Allegheny County Health Department, state Department of Education, infectious disease doctors at UPMC and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

He also noted vaccinations are not available to half of the student population because of their age, and covid cases in Allegheny County have risen to levels near last winter and spring.

“Although we understand the frustration of the mask issue and that, during the summer, masks weren’t universally worn, every student and staff effectively used cloth masks last year with little to no issue or concern,” English said. “According to reports from UPMC Lead Council, masks do not pose a risk to students and reduce risks in schools and ultimately saves lives.”

English presented the updated plan at a school board meeting on Monday, Aug. 16 .

Board President Lisa Ashbaugh said she supports the administration’s recommendations.

“I think the administration’s recommendations are once again putting the health and safety first of all students and staff,” she said. “We have been doing that since the beginning of the pandemic and need to stay the course for a while longer.

“We will periodically review the plan as the number of covid cases decreases. I think with the number of covid cases rising right now, our best option is to start the year wearing masks and revisit this as the numbers start to decrease. Safety has to be our number one priority.”

Masks will be required on buses as well as in the classrooms. Visitors also need to be masked. Masks are optional during outside activities.

Other mitigation efforts include enhanced ventilation and air quality control, regular cleaning and sanitization and social distancing when possible.

An email was to be sent to district families informing them of the plan. It also was posted on the district’s website, rsd.k12.pa.us.