Milton muddles through mask mandate

On Nov. 10, the Pa. Commonwealth Court voted 4 – 1 to overrule the State Department of Health’s masking mandate in school.

That afternoon, Milton Superintendent Dr. Cathy Keegan sent an email to everyone in the district. “Our current approved Health and Safety Plan states we will follow all federal, state and local mandates regarding mask wearing. With that said, in the absence of a mandate, mask wearing becomes a personal choice in our school buildings,” she said, adding that the federal order requiring masks on school buses would remain in place.

According to an announcement on the governor’s website, Governor Tom Wolf’s office immediately appealed the ruling to get rid of the masks. On Nov. 30, the Pa. Supreme Court voted to extend the mask mandate until a Dec. 7 hearing. However, in a district communication that day, the district announced that it would continue the mask optional policy currently in place.

Though Milton’s school year began with masks optional, face coverings were required in all state schools on Sept. 7, by order of the Pa. Acting Secretary of Health.

At the Oct. 19 Milton school board meeting, several parents and community members spoke in opposition of the mandate. However, Social Studies teacher Ms. Kellie Brouse also spoke, explaining that masks were necessary for school to return to normal.

The meeting resolved with the board voting 5 – 4 to continue following the mandate.

Parent input is considered when making decisions about what to do as far as the mask mandate, said District Director of Student Services and Pandemic Coordinator Ms. Catherine Girton. She said that parents often directly contact the school board, and their concerns are then passed to the school board members.

“We certainly value the input of parents as well community members, and we have heard quite a few opinions over the course of the COVID Pandemic,” added Ms. Girton.

Ms. Girton said that a waiver for parents was considered among the board members during the September board meeting.

According to Ms. Girton, it is possible that the topic of masks will be discussed again, and she hopes it is done in a respectful manner. “The administration, the teachers and the students– we are still trying to provide a good education every day and take care of the kids that need to be taken care of,” she added.