This summer, local school boards across the state began determining if a mask mandate was the right fit for their students, school staff, parents, and community. Some of these decisions drew unfavorable responses, be it for or against returning to school with masks.
On August 31st, after these local school boards painstakingly determined what they felt was the right fit for their district, Governor Wolf announced the PA Health Secretary’s universal K-12 mask mandate. This reinforced previous school board decisions or, in many cases, reversed them.
Since the pandemic began, the Keystone Teachers Association has taken the position that the best way to deal with COVID-19 is at the local level. We have never taken a statewide position on masks or vaccines. That is not the case for other education associations here in PA.
Additionally, we are also hearing that not all educators have been made aware of the exceptions to the mask order that went into effect on September 7. They are listed below:
- If wearing a face covering while working would create an unsafe condition in which to operate equipment or execute a task as determined by local, state, or federal regulators or workplace safety guidelines.
- If wearing a face covering would either cause a medical condition, or exacerbate an existing one, including respiratory issues that impede breathing, a mental health condition, or a disability.
- When necessary to confirm the individual’s identity.
- When working alone and isolated from interaction with other people with little or no expectation of in-person interaction.
- If an individual is communicating or seeking to communicate with someone who is hearing-impaired or has another disability, where the ability to see the mouth is essential for communication.
- When an individual is:
- engaged in an activity that cannot be performed while wearing a mask, such as eating and drinking, or playing an instrument that would be obstructed by the face covering; or
- Participating in high intensity aerobic or anerobic activities, including during a physical education class in a well-ventilated location and able to maintain a physical distance of six feet from all other individuals.
- When a child/student is participating in a sports practice activity or event, whether indoors or outdoors.
As always, any questions or comments can be directed to KEYTA at 717-763-1168 or info@keyta.org.
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