Following more than a year of ups and downs, uncertainty, masks and social distancing, Ellwood City Area School District plans to begin the 2021-2022 school year on a normal note.
During Thursday’s Special Meeting of the Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors, District Superintendent Dr. Wesley Shipley announced that the district’s ARP ESSER Health and Safety plan will not include masks for back to school. He said that his administration believes that learning is a social activity and as such requires students to interact without masks or social distancing.
“We have every plan to open full-time, mask-free, and interacting as normal,” he said.
What does that mean? According to Shipley when students return to classes in the fall, barriers will no longer be in place and classrooms will look more like they did pre-COVID.
District Solicitor Jennifer Dambeck pointed out that the ARP ESSER Health and Safety plan will be reviewed by the District’s Board of Directors every six months for any necessary updates or changes.
In addition to its impact on learning, the district’s move to go mask free was prompted by the nearing end of Pennsylvania’s mask mandate order. In May, Governor Tom Wolf announced that the state will lift its mask mandate on June 28th or when 70-percent of Pennsylvania’s adults are fully vaccinated from COVID-19, whichever comes first. According to U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 58.5% of adults in the state are fully vaccinated.
Shipley said should there be guidance by the CDC to return to mask wearing and social distancing, the district will comply with any mandates.
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