The Hampton Township School District has reverted to its former masking policy in light of the Dec. 10 ruling by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

The court affirmed a lower court ruling that the state’s acting secretary of health did not have the authority to issue a mandatory mask mandate for schools in August. The ruling ended the mandate effective immediately. Going forward, school districts can implement their own making policies as they see fit.

In a Dec. 10 letter to district parents and guardians, Superintendent Michael R. Loughead said: “This means that Hampton Township’s Health and Safety Plan that was adopted by the School Board on August 24th is immediately in effect for our school community. Our Health and Safety plan has been in effect since it was approved in August but was superseded by the state masking order until today. Therefore, Hampton Township School District will now follow our Health and Safety plan that was Board approved on August 24, 2021.”

Masks are required indoors for all students, staff and visitors at the K-12 level when Allegheny County is in the high or Substantial community transmission level. At this time, Allegheny County is in the high community transmission level (per CDC community transmission levels). At the middle school and high school, should the county be determined to be in the moderate or low community transmission status, the district will consult with the Allegheny County Health Department and reevaluate this policy. At the elementary level, the district will reevaluate the policy when the county has low community transmission.

The letter continues, “Additionally, masking is required of all students, staff, and visitors indoors at school unless a formal exemption has been granted to the individual in writing from the District. Finally, the federal requirement for universal masking on public transportation, including school transportation, remains in effect. … Our goal has been to continue in-person instruction and minimize quarantining throughout this school year, and we strongly believe that following our Health and Safety Plan will allow us to do so.”

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