Community Update - November 10, 2021

Dear Annville-Cleona School District Parent(s)/Guardian(s):

As you may have read today, November 10, 2021, in a 4-1 decision, the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania issued a ruling written by Judge Christine Fizzano Cannon that voids the Face Covering Order for schools in Pennsylvania that was issued by PA Acting Secretary of Health Allison Beam on August 31, 2021. You can read the complete ruling here.

At this point, it appears that masking students becomes a local school district decision again as was in place prior to the August 31 order.

There are many scenarios that could result from today’s ruling.  The Governor and Department of Health could just drop the matter, file an appeal and ask for a stay of the order upon appeal, or possibly take some other type of action. 

Unless a stay of the order upon appeal is issued, the Annville-Cleona School District will revert back to the Board Approved Health and Safety Plan from August 9, 2021 which makes masks optional for all students and staff effective immediately.  However, if a stay of the order is issued, per our Health and Safety Plan, we would be required to follow that masking order again.  Updates will be provided as additional information becomes available. Please note that masks will still be required on all district bus and van transportation since the mask order on transportation is a Federal Order.

The district will continue with our other mitigation efforts that have been in effect last year and thus far this school year.  Additionally, for your convenience, I have linked the update of the current positive COVID cases by building on our district website (which is linked here).  This has also been included each week in the principals’ updates.

​​​​​​​If you have any questions or concerns about the information contained in this letter, please feel free to contact me.

Professionally,

Dr. Krista M. Antonis
Superintendent