Most Kiski Area parents 'in favor of choice' when it comes to masks for children, acting superintendent says

Kiski Area School Board will discuss its current health and safety plan during Wednesday night’s agenda meeting.

A draft of the district health and safety plan, presented to the public on July 26, makes it optional for students, staff and visitors to wear face coverings or masks when classes begin on Aug. 26.

Masks will be required on all district school buses.

Acting Superintendent Jason Lohr said he received about 80 emails from district parents in response to an Aug. 6 email he sent soliciting comments and questions about the health and safety plan.

“The majority of feedback from parents’ emails are in favor of choice,” Lohr said.

Lohr said every board member will receive copies of the emails so they can review them in advance of the anticipated Aug. 16 vote on the health and safety plan.

Board member Mark Flemm said he has fielded numerous comments and questions from district parents over the summer.

“Some parents are concerned, some don’t want their kids wearing masks. Clearly there are people on both sides,” Flemm said.

Flemm described the current district health and safety plan as a “working document.”

“Things are constantly changing, new information is constantly available and it’s been extremely difficult to adjust on the fly,” Flemm said. “That said, I feel our district has done a good job adapting and being prepared daily, weekly, monthly and through the entire pandemic.”

Officials said the district will continue to follow any changes in state mandates or orders from the governor’s office, the state Department of Health and the state Department of Education.

The CDC recommends that everyone wear a mask, regardless of vaccination status.

Flemm said he is vaccinated against covid-19 and will not wear a mask on campus unless it’s required by the district.

School districts nationwide are facing difficult decisions regarding mask usage as covid-19 cases are on the rise.

Kiski Area enrolls about 3,500 students from Armstrong and Westmoreland counties. Westmoreland County has a substantial risk of submission, while Armstrong County has a moderate risk, according to the CDC.

Under Kiski Area’s plan, students will have the option of selecting in-person instruction five days a week or fully remote instruction.

Other proposed covid-19 prevention measures include closing all water fountains, cleaning high-touch surfaces several times daily and maintaining social distancing in classrooms and the cafeteria.

Students are asked to bring water bottles. Hands-free water filling stations will be available.

“With guidance from the state, all of the decisions regarding covid-19 and the health and safety plan have been made with everyone’s well-being as the primary focus,” Flemm said.

Residents will be permitted to address the board during Wednesday night’s meeting, which is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. in the central administration board room in Allegheny Township. The meeting also will be livestreamed on YouTube at https://youtu.be/vkk7dsraSyo.