Masks Optional At Lower Merion School District Summer Programs

LOWER MERION TOWNSHIP, PA — The Lower Merion School District has shifted its mask policy regarding summer programs after the Montgomery County Office of Public Health issued new guidance last week.

According to the district, masks will be optional both indoors and outdoors for students and staff in summer programs.

The district made the decision to make masks optional based on the county's announcement and statements from the CDC and CHOP's PolicyLab.

According to the district, there have been no positive coronavirus cases in more than three weeks in the district.

However, the mask policy is subject to change not only for the summer programs but also the 2021-22 school year.

Mask use is recommended for students and staff who are not vaccinated while indoors but will not be mandatory.

During summer programs, staff will continue to maintain daily seating charts to assist with contact tracing. Social distancing will continue to be encouraged to the extent possible, with six-foot distancing for elementary students during meals. Higher risk activities – such as choir and drama – should be held outdoors or indoors with increased social distancing.

Anyone who tests positive, or who has a positive individual in their household, is still asked to call the COVID Healthline at 610-645-1973 to report the exposure and receive information regarding testing and quarantine. Healthline nurses are also available to answer COVID-19-related questions.

The district's Health Services is asking parents and guardians of students who have been vaccinated outside of district clinic to send proof of vaccination — such as a photo of the vaccine card — to healthservices@lmsd.org.

Parents and guardians are not required to share this information; however, it is helpful for the COVID Nurses Team to know how many of students have been immunized overall and to avoid unnecessary contact tracing and quarantine calls. The vaccination information will be kept confidential by the nursing staff and will only be used for contact-tracing.