Pittsburgh Diocese is requiring students and faculty to wear masks in Catholic schools this fall

PITTSBURGH — Schools of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh will begin the 2021-2022 school year with mandatory masking indoors for students, faculty, and staff -- regardless of vaccination status -- unless medical or developmental conditions prohibit their use.

The diocese made the announcement Tuesday.

“Although we had hoped to be in a position to allow optional masking, that is not possible at this point in time,” Michelle Peduto, Director of Catholic Schools, wrote in a letter to students, families, teachers and staff on Tuesday. “The protocols for quarantining in an optional-mask environment would significantly compromise our ability to provide in-person instruction. We must evaluate how the first month of classroom instruction impacts Covid-19 numbers for students of all ages.”

During the 2020-2021 school year, diocese schools maintained in-person instruction, though some grades or schools were occasionally closed temporarily to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

“Parents, teachers, staff, and students demonstrated extraordinary resilience, faith and courage as we met our goals for keeping students, faculty and staff safe and for keeping students physically present in school,” Peduto wrote. “Our intent is to navigate the COVID situation this year as well as we did last year.”

With emerging variants of Covid-19 in mind, Peduto said the overarching goal is to maintain in-person instruction five days a week.

The district also announced the following policies:

• Masks are required inside all school buildings (Pre-K to 12) for all staff and students who are two years or older, unless medical or developmental conditions prohibit their use. This includes all vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. Frequent mask breaks should be provided, which is best done outside.
• Masks are required on buses and public transportation. All bus regulations must be followed in order for students to utilize those services.
• Configurations of classrooms and lunchrooms will employ physical distancing strategies in the least restrictive manner possible, while maintaining a safe environment.
• School employees and students will continue to focus on hand hygiene.
• Schools will continue to adhere to cleaning and disinfecting procedures.
• Schools will continue to keep classrooms properly ventilated and will conduct as many activities as possible outside.
• Positive Covid-19 cases will continue to be reported to the appropriate health departments.
• The mask policy will be re-evaluated in late September. As was the case last year, these policies are subject to change, based on updated federal, state and county guidance.

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