Top Stories

South Fayette parents urging district administration not to mandate masks for upcoming school year

SOUTH FAYETTE, Pa. — Nearly 350 people have signed a petition asking the South Fayette School District not to mandate that their child wear a mask in the 2021-2022 school year.

The district is debating making the wearing of masks mandatory when kids return to school. Instead, the petitioners want parents to make the choice for their children.

“For our kids sake please please the insanity has got to stop. Let’s get on with our lives and let the kids think about their futures,” parent Krista Cooney said. “I think kids should go back to the way it was and learning the way they should be, and not with their faces half covered and 6 feet and pull your mask over your nose every 5 minutes.”

But if you ask internal medicine physician Dr. Brian Lamb, he says following the CDC’s guidance is the safest option.

“We should stick with the facts. We should stick with the facts and the guidance of the CDC, if you’re 12 and under and not received your vaccine, you should be wearing masks if you’re in public,” he said.

The acting superintendent said the health of their students and staff if first priority, and the district is working daily with the county health department, UPMC, CDC, and OSHA on their health plan, which will be announced July 30.

“They’re our kids and we have our kids best interests in mind, and when it comes down to it, who is going to speak out first? It’s going to be the parents,” Cooney said.