Butler Area is the latest school district to make a decision on the wearing of masks in the upcoming school year.

Superintendent Brian White sent a letter to all parents Tuesday stating that attorneys from the district solicitor, Dillon McCandless King Coulter and Graham, have advised the school board that they do not have the authority to mandate masks for students and staff while at school.

The attorneys said it is their opinion that to mandate masking, legislation by the state legislature or an order from the state secretary of health would be required, the letter said.

White said throughout the pandemic, he has followed a podcast by Dr. Michael Osterholm, the director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota.

Osterholm's latest broadcast advised that a cloth mask provides five to 10 minutes of protection from the COVID-19 virus, a KN95 mask provides up to 35 hours of protection.

“With that in mind, we have ordered KN95 masks that we will make available to both students and employees,” White's letter states. “The intent will be to provide them on a weekly basis to those who would like to wear one.”

He said individual schools will be sending parents information on signing up for a school-provided KN95 mask.

White said the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American Academy of Pediatrics and the state Department of Health all are recommending that students and staff wear masks to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

White said some community members have advocated for a district mask mandate, while others want no masking requirement in the schools.

“While the viewpoints that are shared with me are often night and day, there is one consistent theme, and that is a passion for the well-being of students,” White said.

The letter also lists the requirements for quarantining for those who contract COVID-19 or have been exposed to the virus.

Those who test positive are required by the state to isolate.

Quarantining requirements for those who were exposed to someone with a positive case are based on whether the individual is vaccinated or wears a mask.

White included a chart in the letter detailing whether those exposed to COVID-19 must quarantine based on those factors.

The chart can be viewed at basdk12.org/news.

White praised parents for their understanding and support through the many protocol changes during the pandemic.

“As all of you probably know by now, things can change very rapidly,” White said. “So, while this is how we intend to proceed, that could change.”