Brian Hagberg
RUSSELL, Pa. – In the wake of a Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling Friday, the Warren County School District announced an update to its mask policy.
In short, masks are now optional in school buildings but still required on buses and district transportation.
“When it comes to the mask mandate that was written by the Acting Secretary of Health Allison Beam covering masks in school (it) is no longer in effect,” WCSD Superintendent Amy Stewart said in a video release. “And our health and safety plan again is written to support that so we will be pivoting just as the order has pivoted. That means the district will recommend that masks are worn but they are not mandated to be worn going forward in school.”
The state supreme court issued a per curium ruling late Friday afternoon that vacated the order Beam issued in August. The order related to masking on transportation, however, is a federal order and remains in effect.
“It’s a federal order that mandates that everyone wear masks on district transportation,” Stewart said. “So no change from what we’ve been doing on district transportation, but it will change in schools.”
