Masks Still Required Pending Discussion of Options

Dear Radnor Staff and Families,
 
On Friday evening, December 10, the Pennsylvania Secretary of Education informed superintendents that the PA Supreme Court struck down the Acting Secretary of Health’s school mask mandate. With this recent ruling, the decision to mask students is now up to each individual school district. A federal mandate still requires masks on all school buses and public transportation. The Secretary of Education’s message is pasted below this message.
 
Currently, our Radnor Health and Safety Plan requires all students and staff K-12 to mask. Any changes to our Radnor Health and Safety Plan must be approved by the School Board. At our next Board Business meeting on Tuesday, December 21, we will discuss several masking options. The meeting will be held in-person at the Radnor Township building beginning at 7 p.m. and will also be streamed live on our YouTube channel.
 
Unless and until we change our Radnor Health and Safety Plan, masks will continue to be required in all Radnor schools and buildings. I will provide our community with an update after our Board discussion on December 21.
 
We continue to remain focused on providing the best in-person educational program for our students balanced with the safety of our entire community.
 
I hope all our families are finding time to enjoy this holiday season.
 
Sincerely,
 
Ken
 
Kenneth E. Batchelor
Superintendent of Schools
______
 
Dear Colleagues,
 
Earlier today, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court struck down the Acting Secretary of Health’s school masking order, effective today, December 10, 2021.
 
Please note that this decision does not impact the federal directive requiring all passengers and drivers to wear a mask on school buses, including on buses operated by public and private school systems; these requirements remain in effect. It also does not impact the federal masking mandate issued for Head Start and Early Head Start grantees.
 
School entities still possess the authority and are encouraged to require masks in their facilities as recommended by CDC. Masking in school settings minimizes the spread of COVID-19, particularly in settings where individuals and students are not vaccinated, and allows for reduced quarantining to keep individual students and staff in school.
 
Finally, the elimination of the statewide PreK-12 school mask requirement does not change how schools respond to COVID-19 cases in schools, address outbreaks, or report data to the PA Department of Health (DOH). Schools should continue to refer to the guidance contained here.
 
We recognize that developments around the masking order have created challenges for you during a very difficult time. We will provide additional information in the days ahead but wanted to share this initial news as quickly as possible.
 
Sincerely,
 
Noe
 
Noe Ortega, Ph.D. | Secretary of Education
Pennsylvania Department of Education | Executive Office
333 Market Street | Harrisburg, PA 17126
717.783.9780 | www.education.pa.gov