Dear BEA Community:
I have two announcements to make regarding COVID cases and the masking order. First, here is the COVID cases for the week of November 8-12, 2021:
Wingate: 3 cases 1 quarantine
Howard: 1 case 0 quarantines
Mountain Top 0 cases 0 quarantines
Port Matilda: 0 cases 0 quarantines
MS/HS 1 case 0 quarantines
I cannot remember the last time we had a week without any quarantines at the MS/HS but it has been a while.
Yesterday, November 16, the Commonwealth Court, issued a ruling, stating that the face covering order must end on Saturday, December 4, 2021, reversing the automatic stay triggered when Governor Wolf appealed to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on November 10. Absent further legal action, the PA Department of Health Face Covering Order for K-12 schools will end on December 4, 2021.
The appeal is still pending before the State Supreme Court, a date for that hearing has been scheduled for December 8, 2021. Keep in mind that there are multiple pathways to overturn this most recent decision. I will keep you updated as the legal battle continues.
Consequently, unless further legal action occurs before December 4, the Face Covering Order from the PA Department of Health will be lifted at that time. If that should occur, our district plans to revert back to our Health and Safety Plan making masks optional effective December 5, 2021.
Sincerely,
Scott V. Graham
Superintendent