Northwest PA News

Keystone Junior Senior High School issued the following announcement.

 **IMPORTANT INFORMATION** 

Effective Monday, August 31, 2020, due to the extreme number of cases of non-compliance with facial covering requirements, the District will be enforcing a “No mask, No Entry” plan for district facilities and school transportation. 

Students who arrive on campus without a mask or documented evidence of a legitimate exception will not be permitted to remain in district facilities, participate in Career Center education, or participate in extracurricular activities/interscholastic athletics.

 Legitimate exceptions are recognized for students with official doctor’s orders and those students with documented conditions in 504 Plans and IEPs. Parent/Guardian Attestation Forms are no longer sufficient for required documentation. 

We understand it may take some time to consult with your child’s health care provider. 

Absences accrued during this process will be excused. Students wearing masks or face shields are afforded “mask breaks” during the course of the school day. 

Keystone School District offers a fully remote learning platform for students/families who are unwilling to comply with the mandatory Order associated with Universal Face Coverings. 

Dear Parents/Guardians, Students & Staff: 

The return to school has been mostly positive. Students have been very upbeat about a return to in-person learning and some sense of normalcy (despite the obvious differences). As we’ve stated many, many times over, students need the opportunity to return to in-person learning with their peers. The impact of school closures in the spring of 2020 on our children was extraordinary. Schools provide an array of supportive services to students and families that are necessary for social and emotional well-being. 

Unfortunately, the issue of face coverings (masks or shields) continues to be an issue, particularly at the juniorsenior high school. As we’ve continued to collect and record our attestation forms, we’ve become keenly aware of several perceptual flaws. I want to thank those families who’ve complied with the Orders and guidelines. However, some of you interpreted our Parent/Guardian Attestation Form to be a “waiver” for non-compliance. We’ve tried to approach this in a way that brought organization and honesty to an otherwise challenging process. 

In short, schools must require ALL students over two years of age to wear face coverings, except for any student who has a medical or mental health condition or disability that precludes the wearing of a face covering in school. Recent information surrounding the updated PDE guidance on face coverings—issued after the Parent/Guardian Attestation Form was distributed—also states that schools may require students with exceptions to provide the supporting medical documentation. Accommodations for such students should be made in partnership with the student’s health care provider. 

Effective Monday, August 31, 2020, we will begin implementing a “No Mask, No Entry” plan for students who’ve been non-compliant with the Order. We will seek medical documentation to support the student’s exception (medical, mental health condition or disability) if we do not already have this information on file. Given the rarity of conditions that prevent children from wearing masks and a lack of evidence that suggests wearing masks is harmful to children, the school will initiate further discussions to better understand your child’s disabling condition and potential accommodations. Students who require mask-wearing accommodations will be addressed through a written COVID-19 related health care plan. Your child may be in need of additional supports and services. 

Students are given masks breaks throughout the day and have the autonomy to self-regulate when necessary. Our intention is to keep schools open and to ensure our students have opportunities to learn, to play, to compete, to perform and to maintain important social connections. Non-compliance in the absence of legitimate exceptions is irresponsible and will not be tolerated. 

Original source can be found here.