Superintendent's Letter: Pennsylvania Issues Mask Mandate for Schools

Dear Hampton Families,

As you may already be aware, on Tuesday, August 31, 2021:

“Governor Wolf announced an Order signed by Pennsylvania's Acting Secretary of Health requiring face coverings to be worn in all school entities, including school districts, brick and mortar and cyber charter schools, private and parochial schools, career and technical centers, intermediate units, and early learning and other child care settings, effective Tuesday, September 7, 2021. This statewide Order reflects the current statewide data — all 67 counties are reporting high or substantial rates of community transmission of COVID-19 — and the fact that our young people represent the largest remaining segment of our population that is unvaccinated, and therefore unprotected from an infectious disease variant that is aggressively spreading.

To ensure as much consistency as possible, local implementation of the Order will reflect many of the standards that were in place throughout much of the 2020-21 school year, including a series of accommodations and exceptions detailed within the Order. Answers to FAQs are also available on the Pennsylvania Department of Education's website. In a change from the 2020 Order and recognizing a steady accrual of evidence around disease transmission, face coverings are not required outdoors.”

As of Tuesday, September 7, 2021, the District will be following all aspects of the Order issued by Pennsylvania's Acting Secretary of Health requiring face coverings to be worn in all school entities. This Order supersedes the Health and Safety Plan that the Hampton Township School District Board of School Directors approved on August 24, 2021.

Further, I wanted to thank all our students, parents, faculty and staff for their understanding and patience which made the start of the 2021-22 school year a successful one. We are delighted to have our students back in the classrooms for five-day-per-week in-person instruction, as we remain committed to our Tradition of Excellence.

Sincerely, 

Dr. Michael R. Loughead

Superintendent

Hampton Township School District