By Duane Good EDITOR LOYALTON
Mask-wearing on campus will be voluntary for Upper Dauphin Area School District students and employees when the 2021-22 school year begins Monday, Aug. 23. The decision was part of the district’s Health and Safety Plan approved by an 8-0 vote of the school board last week. Circumstances could change that status as the year progresses, according to District Superintendent Jared Shade. Masks still will be required for all students using district-provided transportation to and from school, regardless of whether they are or aren’t vaccinated. This directive falls within guidelines established by the federal Centers for Disease Control last year at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. UDA’s complete Health and Safety Plan is posted at udasd.org, the district’s website. Plan is federally required All public school systems that receive federal funding are required to approve and submit a Health and Safety Plan to their respective state departments of education to remain eligible for aid under the American Recovery Plan Act, passed by the U.S. Congress in March. For Pennsylvania, the submission deadline is Friday, July 30. The ARP continues the availability of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds included as part of last year’s Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act legislation. Each school district’s Health and Safety Plan must include how the SEE MASKS • PAGE A2