Levittown-Area Schools Keep Mask Mandates

COVID-19 public health safety measures have been controversial issues since the pandemic led to the restrictions being put into place last year in Bucks County and across the country.

With nearly all mitigation measures lifted in Pennsylvania as of Memorial Day, continued mask wearing has become a contentious issued for some. Pennsylvania currently requires only unvaccinated residents to wear a mask when around others, but that order will soon be ending.

Most public schools continue to require mask wearing, as only students ages 12 and above are able to be vaccinated. The Bristol Borough, Bristol Township, Neshaminy, and Pennsbury school districts still require mask wearing and physical distancing as much as possible.

Last week, the Bucks County’s Central Bucks School District, the third largest school district in the state, and Council Rock School District both updated their safety plans to remove mandatory mask wearing after votes from the school boards. The school boards received advice from Bucks County Health Department Director Dr. David Damsker that the change was safe.

The change led some Levittown-area parents to call on local school districts to make masks optional.

Users on the Reopen Bucks County Facebook group and several community pages celebrated the moves.

“Why aren’t our schools doing this? We wore them when we need, but let the kids be free and have a normal last month,” Bristol Township School District parent Dan, who declined to give his last name, wrote in an email to this news organization.

The Bristol Township, Neshaminy, and Pennsbury school districts are planning keep their mask mandates in place for the final days of the school year. The Bristol Borough School District didn’t return a request for comment.

“Until we have clear guidance on whether a local health department can override a Governor’s order, we plan to maintain our current Health and Safety Plan, which calls for continued masking  through the end of the school year,” Pennsbury spokesperson Ann Langtry said.

“Bristol Township School District is maintaining the current Health and Safety Plan and mask mandate until the end of the 2020-2021 school year, as discussed at the May 15 Board meeting. The District awaits recommendations from the Pennsylvania Department of Education for the 2021-2022 school year,” said Superintendent Dr. Melanie Gehrens.

Dr. Rob McGee, the superintendent for Neshaminy, said he spoke with Damsker before the votes in Central Bucks and Council Rock. He said Damsker was in support of the district’s plan to keep the mask order in place, but the district has relaxed the masking requirement for when students are outside.

“Educators understand that one doesn’t teach children that masks are important to their health and the health of others for months, then eliminate them overnight. The process of reteaching for understanding and emotional comfort for all would take longer than the remaining days of school. It doesn’t matter what side of the mask debate one is on. This is our present status,” McGee said.

“In my opinion, eliminating face covers without necessary supports and advanced communication/planning would cause more emotional/anxiety issues and disruption in our schools than to remain with masks for a few more days,” he added.

Damsker, in an interview with LevittownNow.com, affirmed that he believes it is safe for schools to relax or remove mask mandates, but he also understands the case for keeping them through the end of the year.

“I will support any district that chooses to make masks optional and support anyone that will keep their mandate through the end of the school year,” the county’s top public health official said.

As of this week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Pennsylvania Department of Health continue to recommend wearing of masks in schools to stop the spread of COVID-19. The state has said schools and businesses have the authority to require people to wear masks at their facilities.

Damsker said Bucks County has seen extremely low COVID-19 case numbers in recent weeks and very few cases in schools.

Last week, the county was averaging between two and three new cases among school students and staff out of the roughly 105,000 students and staff in the county. Some of the cases were among students who were attending classes virtually.

“The numbers have never been this low since we reopened. There is real epidemiological data in Bucks County that we’re basing [our guidance] on,” he said. “These decisions shouldn’t be based on fear or whether you like a mask or not.”

While some parents have posted online that they will be sending their students to school without masks, Damsker asked parents to respect school health and safety plans.

Although there is a state health department, the Bucks County Health Department has primary responsibility for health matters in Bucks County. Damsker said he has the legal authority to go against the state’s recommendations and advise schools to remove mask mandates if they wish.

Damsker’s past decisions to ease quarantines in some cases and reduce physical distancing requirements in certain classroom settings have drawn some pushback over the course of the pandemic.

Damsker said he does not regret his decisions to implement masks mandates or ease restrictions before other places in the state.

“Look at modified quarantines. We were doing them before everyone was,” he said of the practice that has been adopted elsewhere. “We have been in the forefront of getting kids back in school.”

The county’s public health director said his department’s moves were backed by data, including proof that masking works at cutting down the spread of COVID-19, vaccines are highly effective, and schools could begin operating in-person classes last year with safety measures in place.

Come fall, Damsker hopes to have schools back to normal and no masking needed. He urged residents who are not vaccinated and eligible to get vaccinated.

“The vaccine is doing exactly what they said it would do,” he said, noting the reduction in cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. “It helps. Getting vaccinated will help the schools.”

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