T/E School District Lifts Mask Mandate

TREDYFFRIN-EASTTOWN, PA —Tredyffrin/Easttown School District lifted a mask mandate, effective Monday, Feb. 28, in the wake of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention loosening guidance on wearing masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Dr. Richard Gusick, superintendent, on Friday notified parents and staff that masks are optional under new guidelines.

The new guidelines break COVID-19 levels into three categories - low, medium and high.

Individuals are only required to wear masks indoors when the level is high.

In Chester County, the level as of Friday is medium.

In the medium level, the CDC indicates individuals at high risk for severe illness should talk to their healthcare provider about the need to wear masks and take precautions.

On Friday, the Chester County Department of Health reported 480 positive test cases from Feb. 18 to 24th, according to the county COVID-19 monitoring report.

In the T/E district, which has a population of 40,030, a total of 28 positive cases were reported during that time period.

Gusick said the T/E district’s Health and Safety Plan allows revision to be made between board meetings when the health authority guidelines change.

The updated plan will be presented at the next school board meeting which is scheduled for 7:30

p.m. Monday in Valley Forge Middle School.

According to the new policy:

• CDC no longer mandates masks on school buses and vehicles.
• When community levels are low or medium, any student or staff member can choose to wear or not wear a mask.
• Parents or guardians may contact the school nurse about concerns about specific health conditions.
• Adjustments of the policy will be phased in or phased out.
• The new health plan will be reposted on the district’s website today.

The superintendent noted there are strong opinions within the community regarding masking.

“Please remind your child to be respectful of other students and staff members’ mask choice,” the superintendent said in the statement.

On Friday, Feb. 11 about 50 students gathered in the school atrium to protest school mandates.

On Feb. 14, the district switched to virtual learning for one day at Conestoga High School to provide an opportunity to investigate allegations of inappropriate comments by students.

Police determined there was no criminal conduct and in-person school resumed on Feb. 15.

Last week, Great Valley School Board unanimously approved lifting the mask mandate, March 7.

Parents in the West Chester Area School District and Downingtown Area School District parents filed petitions in Chester County Court, asking for the district to recall school board members who voted in favor mask mandates.