The Hollidaysburg Area School Board on Wednesday, decided that masks will be optional for all staff and students in the coming school year, as long as covid case numbers remain within the low, moderate or substantial transmission ranges. However, board members said that if cases reach the high transmission range, masks could be mandated, but only if the board approves. That announcement was met by comment from some parents and others, who said the district has no official authority to decide whether or not anyone wears a mask. They said mask mandates are not laws, and the decisioni on whether students should wear masks should be left up to parents… not school or government officials.
