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It was an eventful first day of school for many.
On a day when several area schools opened their doors for the 2021-22 school year, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf announced that masks would be returning to schools in the Commonwealth on Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021. Area superintendents and administrators reacted to the news.
The reactions were mixed -- some believe that the mask mandate will drive students into online learning, while others said they will roll with the punches and adhere to the mandate.
Keystone Central School District superintendent Jacquelyn Martin said via email that the district is "required to comply" with the mandate.
"The Keystone Central School District is required to comply with the Pennsylvania Secretary of Health's Mask Mandate which will be enforced beginning on Sept. 7, 2021," Martin said. "Over the next few days we will prepare for communications, signage and additional distribution of masks where needed."
Additionally, she said: "Families are being asked to provide masks for all students for use on school busses or indoors while at school. Masks will be provided to those who do not have one. All staff members will be required to comply with this mandate while at work and may choose to use the district provided masks or elect to wear one of their own."
Finally, she said that it is the district's mission to keep schools open for the 2021-22 school year.
"We are committed to keeping our schools open for in-person learning as we know that this is the best way for most children to learn academics and develop critical skills needed to be successful," Martin said.
At Sugar Valley Rural Charter School, Tracie Kennedy simply said: "The SVRCS Health and Safety Plan states that we will comply with CDC and PDE mandates where masks are concerned."
Bald Eagle Area superintendent Scott Graham believes that the mandate will push some BEA students into the district's cyber academy.
"We have no choice but to follow the state mandate. This will likely cause a number of students to enroll in our Cyber Academy," Graham said.
He's hopeful, he said, that most students will stay the course and continue to come to school.
"In my opinion, being at school is the best place for learning and I am hopeful that a great majority of our students will continue to remain at school for in-person learning," Graham said.
All of the school districts in The Express' coverage area approved their respective health and safety plans over the summer. And while masks were optional in those health and safety plans, this mandate deems masks mandatory.
Jersey Shore superintendent Brian Ulmer said that the district would comply with the mandate.
"Our Board approved Health and Safety Plan indicates that the district will comply with all state orders," Ulmer said.
In a letter to parents sent on Tuesday, the Jersey Shore School District said that there will be some exemptions for masking.
"Note that the district must provide reasonable accommodations for individuals who state they have a medical condition, mental health condition, or disability that makes it unreasonable for the person to maintain a face covering," the letter states.
The letter also states that the order "remains in effect until further notice, but will be re-evaluated by Oct. 1, 2021 by state officials."
In the Bellefonte Area School District, superintendent Tammie Burnaford said that the district will comply with the mandate.
"Our board-approved Health and Safety Plan includes requiring masks for all of our students and staff if the Pennsylvania Department of Health, PDE or other governmental agency mandates the wearing of masks," Burnaford said. "Given today's announcement, the Bellefonte Area School District will comply with the Pennsylvania DOH order."
For more information about the state's mask mandate, visit www.education.pa.gov.