Butler Area School District will not require masks to be worn in its schools once the next semester starts in August.

District administrators presented a new health and safety policy to the school board Monday evening, which will be on the district's website for parents and visitors to review.

School board members asked the administrators to revise the format of the plan to have more clear language, and superintendent Brian White said it will be presented at the next board meeting on Monday.

The American Rescue Plan requires that school districts write a health and safety plan in order to receive money through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) fund.

A template provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention included policy categories for school districts to fill in, including physical distancing, cleaning and ventilation, hand washing, contact tracing, diagnostics, vaccinations, accommodations for children with disabilities and communication with state and local health officials.

The submission is due by July 30, and will have to be reviewed every six months by the CDC for the school district to continue receiving its ESSER funds.

“It's taking bits and pieces of our old plan and updating things,” White said. “We can't access some of the federal money if we don't write that.”

According to the policy, schools will operate on a five-day regular schedule unless a COVID-19 outbreak occurs.

Presentations on handwashing and respiratory etiquette will be presented to all students.

The district will continue its current cleaning strategy, including disinfecting areas where an individual with a confirmed case was present. All staff will be encouraged to open windows in classrooms.

The two schools with forced-air heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems are set to bring in as much outside air as possible.

The district will continue contact tracing. The district has health/temperature screening stations in all schools. If Butler County is at the “moderate” level of cases or higher, the health/temperature screening stations will be activated.

A vaccination clinic is located within the school district boundaries. The school district provides logistical support for students to receive health services at a parent or guardian's request.

The director of special education is authorized to work with special education teachers, Individualized Education Program (IEP) teams and parents to make needed accommodations for the welfare and inclusion of students.

The district participates in Butler County's Joint Incident Command meetings when called or scheduled. During the past school year, these meetings were conducted weekly. The district participates in state webinars if they are scheduled. The school district nursing department chairperson receives health updates directly from the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

This past year, the district administration conducted weekly meetings with the school nurses. Should Butler County return to the “moderate” level or above, those meetings will be instituted.

According to White, federal and state guidance on ESSER funds is constantly changing, so the board will be updated on any plans regarding COVID-19 policies.

“Everyone wants to make sure they're following the right protocols,” he said.

The school district is asking for construction bids for a project that White said would add 12 classrooms to Butler Senior High School.The school is adding an auxiliary gym, and the 12 classrooms would be built in open space at the high school.White said the project is in its early planning stages, but it is part of the district's school reorganization plan. “It increases capacity so that we can bring the ninth graders in,” White said. “Our plan is to eventually close the middle school, so this is going to work toward that.”