North Allegheny mask mandate reinstated after judge approves restraining order

McCANDLESS TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A judge approved a temporary restraining order against the North Allegheny School District school board over the district’s mask policy, making masking again mandatory in schools.

The suit was filed by a group of parents after the school board voted to overturn the superintendent’s decision to require masks for everyone, regardless of vaccination status, this upcoming school year.

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“The gist of the lawsuit is to return to status quo that the superintendent of the North Allegheny schools had implemented several days ago requiring a universal masking policy,” explained attorney Alex Saksen.

On Aug. 16, the decision was made to require masks inside school buildings, but that decision was then overturned by the school board two days later, making masks optional.

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“I think we need to follow the data and we need to follow the science, and right now it looks like we’ve got a huge uptick in the amount of COVID cases happening due to the delta variant, and so I think that masks might not be a bad idea at this stage,” parent Amy Teets said. “I really do think we’re at the stage where we should probably have kids wear masks to schools. I think we should be following CDC guidelines.”

Those against this decision still have until Sept. 30 to provide reasoning and evidence that an optional mask policy should be in place.