Kiski Area sticks with mandatory masking, declines mask-optional policy

Mask-wearing will remain mandatory the remainder of the year for students and staff in the Kiski Area School District.

The board voted 7-1 Monday to keep the mandated mask policy requiring all students and staff to wear a face covering on campus and district school buses.

Michelle Schmidt was the only board member to vote in favor of switching to a mask- optional policy. Board member Kathy Snyder was absent.

“At the end of the day, I want parents to have the choice in decisions for their children,” Schmidt said.

More than 60 mask-optional supporters showed up for the meeting, and about 12 people spoke, imploring the board to vote yes on making masks optional again.

Tensions were high as parents and children filled the board room. An overflow room was made available to accommodate the large crowd.

Four Allegheny Township police officers were hired for security duties at the meeting, but the evening was without incident.

One Kiski Area student spoke in favor of making masks optional, asking the board to end what she described as a “mess.”

Seth Feroce of Bell Township also spoke against the mask mandate.

“I believe in freedom of choice,” Feroce said. “We’re not going away.”

Kiski Area teacher Joe Steeves was the only person to speak publicly in favor of keeping the mask mandate.

Steeves labeled himself a minority in a room filled with mask-optional supporters.

“I may be a minority in this room, but that doesn’t mean I’m a minority in the district,” Steeves said. “The biggest issue I have is you’re not giving people time.”

Steeves said people in the district need time to prepare for having masks made optional.

“What if they want to get their children vaccinated? That takes three to four weeks. There’s no time for them to do that,” Steeves said.

Board member Harlan Jervis spoke out against making masks optional.

“At least 18 to 20 people from my family and close friends are dead (from covid),” Jervis said. “I don’t want anyone here to die of a cold. I truly believe our local government here and the state kept this as-is so we could get through the holidays.”

Jervis told the crowd the mask policy will be brought up again after Jan. 17.

“If this mask saves one person — somebody’s aunt, somebody’s uncle, somebody’s grandmother — that’s my feeling, and I’m voting to keep it (current mask mandate).”

In September, a group of residents held a three-day picket in the district, urging the school board to buck the state’s school mask mandate.

Protest organizer Antionette Pampena drafted a petition that circulated on social media asking for mask usage to be optional for all Kiski Area students.

Protest organizers had vowed to continue daily protests outside Kiski Area High School and district administrative offices but the protests ended after just a few days.

Pennsylvania school districts will be permitted to end or modify the mask mandate for K-12 students Jan. 17.

The state Health Department announced on Aug. 31 a statewide mask mandate for schools and day cares until then.

Editor’s note: An earlier version provided the wrong vote total. The story has been updated to add that board member Kathy Snyder was absent and did not vote.