Mask ruling

Dear BEA Community:

Yesterday the Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued an order for a stay with the Secretary of Health's mask mandate.  This supersedes the Commonwealth Judge's lifting of the stay which would have ended the mask mandate on December 4, 2021.  Therefore, the mask mandate is extended to at least December 8, 2021.  The Pennsylvania Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral argument of the appeal on December 8, 2021, and the  Court may or may not decide to keep the mask mandate in place during the pendency of the appeal.
So for now, the mask mandate remains in place and I will keep you updated as events unfold.  The governor has said the mandate will end on January 17, 2022.  I have heard nothing from the state to indicate that will not occur.  When the mask mandate ends, the district will revert back to its Safety Plan which makes masking optional.
Sincerely,
Scott V. Graham
Superintendent