Norristown Schools To Require Universal Masking Indoors

NORRISTOWN, PA — The Norristown Area School District will require universal masking for all indoors and on buses, regardless of vaccination status, they announced in unveiling their official health and safety plan for the 2021-22 school year.

The district also confirmed that they will be returning to full in-person instruction, after spending much of the 2020-21 school year virtual and hybrid. There will be no virtual option to start this school year, but students are required to take their school-issued Chromebooks home every night just in case virtual learning suddenly becomes necessary.

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The masking requirement is in line with recommendations from Montgomery County, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, and the CDC. Officials said this policy was particularly important given that many students are not eligible to receive the vaccine.

Seating in classrooms will remain separated and socially distant.

"The COVID-19 pandemic is far from over," Superintendent Christopher Dormer said. "We must remain vigilant."

Dormer noted that rising cases due to the delta variant had brought Norristown, East Norriton, and West Norriton back into the "moderate" transmission category.

The first day of school is set for Monday, Aug. 30. Staff will report Aug. 23.