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.

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