Spring-Ford To Lift Mask Mandate In January

ROYERSFORD, PA — The Spring-Ford Area School District will lift its mask mandate for students and staff on Jan. 17, 2022, the school board determined at a meeting this week.

The statewide mandate handed down by Gov. Tom Wolf's administration was scheduled to be lifted on that day, returning control of the decision back to local districts. Recent legal challenges to that mandate could have the state order lifted as soon as Dec. 4, but even if it is, Spring-Ford still has the authority to enforce their own mandate.

>>End Date Of PA School Mask Mandate Set By Court

"If the current state-wide masking order should be lifted at any point before January 17, 2022, Spring-Ford will resort to the current Health and Safety Plan," the board announced.

The current plan, of course, mandates masking for all save those with medical exemptions.

Mask requirements will remain in place on buses, in accordance with CDC directives.

It's the latest development in one of the most contentious aspects of the entire pandemic, one that has fueled anger and deep divisiveness at school board meetings in Spring-Ford and elsewhere.

The Commonwealth Court ruled last week Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam did not have the power to unilaterally issue the mandate in the absence of a public health emergency. She also did not follow correct procedure in issuing the order, the court said. The state is appealing the ruling.