NORTH HUNTINGDON, Pa. — Students heading off to Norwin schools Monday had a choice to make: do they wear a mask or not?
The decision is now up to them after the district implemented a new mask-optional policy.
The policy took effect once the Pennsylvania Supreme Court struck down the acting state health secretary’s mask mandate in schools and child care centers.
>>PREVIOUS STORY: Pennsylvania high court throws out mask mandate for schools
The mandate was already set to expire next month and is now void, according to the court.
North Huntingdon Ward 7 Commissioner Eric Gass weighed in on the new masking policy at Norwin schools: “It is a policy of live and let live,” he said.
“I have no problem with people wanting to protect themselves, if they want to go wear a mask, then by all means, they can wear a mask. But we also have to have equal respect for those that decide that they don’t want to wear the mask.”
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While masks are now optional in Norwin schools, they are still required on buses under federal guidelines.
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