We as members of the Pine-Richland Community want to encourage the continuation of the Pine-Richland School District Health and Safety Plan that requires indoor masking for students, staff, and visitors while Allegheny County continues to be in the high transmission level. 

The best option for the continuity of in-person instruction is to continue the masking policy to keep our students, teachers, and staff safe.

On November 10, 2021 the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court found that the School Mask Mandate issued by the PA Acting Secretary of Health was ‘void and unenforceable.’ On December 10, 2021 the PA Supreme Court upheld the ruling by the PA Commonwealth Court and individual school districts and schools still can decide to require masks on their own. 

At the December 13, 2021 Pine-Richland School Board meeting the Board voted 6-3 to eliminate the mask requirement that is part of the Pine-Richland School District Health and Safety Plan effective January 17th. This decision by the School Board ignores the recommendation by the very qualified Pine-Richland Healthcare Leadership Council. 

Here is part of an email from the Pine-Richland School District on December 16th:

At the public meeting on December 13, 2021, the Pine-Richland School Board approved a motion to make masking optional effective January 17, 2022. Masking indoors by students, staff and visitors would remain recommended but not required. All other mitigation strategies would stay in place. This board decision occurred after much discussion and deliberation. Members of the community can view the health and safety update provided by the administration and the following board discussion at this link beginning at 1:40.10 mark through 4:05.07. A key component in the decision to remove masking and the implementation date of January 17, is the availability of the vaccine for children ages 5 - 11. By mid-January, students in that age group whose parents choose to have their children vaccinated, should have sufficient time to receive two doses of the vaccine and for it to be fully effective.  
 
A Joint Governance meeting is scheduled for January 10, 2022, at 4:00 p.m. to allow additional discussion of this topic. This meeting is open to the public. An opportunity for public comment is provided at the end of this meeting. Members of the Healthcare Leadership Council and other healthcare professionals will be invited to this meeting to provide input.