Seneca Valley School District directors on Monday approved a return-to-school plan with optional, but recommended, masking.

But they also directed school administrators to present them with a quantitative measure of COVID-19 transmission, in which, if necessary, the board would move from mask-optional to mask-mandatory.

The two votes — one to pass the health-and-safety plan to return to school and the other to have administrators come up with a number — came after nearly two hours of public comment from parents who wanted mandatory masks and those who did not. Both votes had at least one dissenter, passing by a 5-2 and a 6-1 margin, respectively.

Seneca Valley's health and safety plan includes a recommendation, but no requirement, for students, staff and faculty to wear a face covering; daily disinfection of common areas such as classrooms and cafeterias; more frequent replacement of heating, ventilation and air conditioning filters; and the use of outdoor spaces and increased distance between seated students whenever possible, among other items.

Parents concerned

After voluminous comment from parents on Aug. 2, Seneca directors Monday heard even more parents concerned about the possibility of mandatory masks in schools.

The first two speakers expressed concern over the rising COVID-19 rates in Butler County and the U.S.. The second speaker, Jason Stephens of Cranberry Township, urged directors to adopt a mask mandate.

“I urge you to consider the science and facts,” Stephens said. “The district's own plan that was released on July 17 calls for masks once substantial transmission is reached in Butler County. That has occurred on Aug. 1.”

Earlier in the meeting, Superintendent Tracy Vitale noted there was some confusion over the shift in transmission designations. Last school year, Vitale said, the state Department of Health would designate counties as having one of three levels of transmission, with substantial the highest; this year, however, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention designates counties as having one of four transmission levels, with high being the highest and substantial the third level.

After Stephens spoke, those who did not want a mask mandate took over the public comment session. One of the most frequent points made by those against a mandate was that parents should have the right to choose whether or not their children wear a mask.

“Let's stick to personal freedom, because I do not want socialism or communism,” said Stephanie Lane of Harmony.

Against inefficacy

Parents against a mask mandate also railed against the perceived inefficacy of masks.

“There is zero clinical efficacy data, no clinical trials ever done to prove the efficacy of the masks that are predominately worn by the students, faculty and staff. None,” said Matthew Hugus of Cranberry. “All of the studies are observational in nature.”

Hugus also questioned why the Infectious Diseases Society of America states on its website that “masking may reduce viral inoculum,” using “may” rather than a stronger word like “does,” and said it was because there have been no clinical trials on humans with respect to mask-wearing.

Following the public comment period, board vice president Jim Nickel said he's glad the school district, rather than the commonwealth, has the power to choose whether masks will be mandatory, but said there may be a point at which such a mandate would be necessary.

Director Fred Peterson, a retired epidemiologist, said he was glad a number of parents came to the meeting to “express their beliefs about their children and their parental rights,” but added, given the emails sent to the school board, “there would be a 50-50 split” between parents in support of and opposed to masking.

A threshold

Nickel said even prior to the vote on the return-to-school plan that he would like to see a figure at which the district would implement a mask mandate.

“I believe that, if we're going to have some measure, it should be from data that is local to Seneca Valley: perhaps to Butler County,” he added.

After the board passed the health and safety plan, Nickel moved to direct administrators to present the board with a quantitative measure at which point the district would move from optional to mandatory masks.

“I don't think that you, as parents, want something that is vague or unclear,” Nickel said. “What I want is something you can look at and say objectively, not subjectively, 'This is the path we're going to take.'”

Because that motion passed by a 6-to-1 vote, the board will consider the administration's figure next meeting in September.