As the legal battle continues over the issue of students wearing facemasks at K-12 schools in Pennsylvania, local school districts are saying that masking requirements will remain in place for now.
On Wednesday, PA Commonwealth Court ruled in a 4-1 decision that the acting PA Department of Health Secretary Allison Beam did not have the authority to put the mask mandate into effect as she did not follow proper procedure. Later that day, the Wolf Administration filed an appeal to the ruling, meaning that the mask mandates are staying in place for now until either the plaintiffs in the case file their own objection or the State Supreme Court rules on the case.
On Wednesday night, Penns Manor School Board announced in letters to parents that the district would continue to follow the masking guidelines until the issue is settled. Superintendents across all Indiana County Schools have shared the same sentiments, and expect students to be masked this morning when school resumes. That includes Philip Martel of the River Valley School District asking the district students and parents to ‘respect the process’ as it continues. All the superintendents have also said that they will keep parents updated on any further developments at the state level.
