Abington Schools To Discuss Mask Mandate Following Court Ruling
ABINGTON, PA — The Abington School District will revisit its universal masking policy during a board meeting next month, the announcement coming after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled last week that a statewide mask mandate for schoolchildren was improperly issued.
In a letter to families dated Dec. 12, Abington School District Superintendent Jeffrey S. Fecher stated that school directors in January are expected to address the mask issue during a review of the district's board-approved health and safety plan.
The health and safety plan must be reevaluated every six months from the date of its adoption — in this case, the plan was adopted by the board on Aug. 10 — and the board plans to address the matter during its meeting on Jan. 18 at 7 p.m.
"As a reminder, our current Health and Safety Plan requires universal indoor masking of all individuals entering District buildings, or on school transportation, and will remain in effect through Tuesday, January 18, 2022, at which time the Board of School Directors will vote on a revised plan," Fecher wrote in his correspondence.
Fecher did not say whether or not the board is considering continuing or repealing the mask mandate, which is designed to help stave off transmission of the COVID-19 virus.
He did point out that the state Supreme Court ruling means the authority for masking guidance is now deferred back to the individual school entities.
Fecher also noted that the court decision has no impact on a federal directive requiring all passengers and drivers to wear masks on school buses.
Some school districts are already repealing their universal mask mandates following the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling. It has been reported that Bensalem schools in Bucks County were among the first to say they will repeal universal masking.
This article originally appeared on the Abington Patch
