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Masks may be making a comeback in the Altoona Area School District as the board is set to convene a special meeting tonight to discuss the issue.
Currently, the district's plan states that masks are optional for everyone except unvaccinated employees.
Since the plan was adopted, though, Blair County has moved from moderate to substantial and now has entered into the high transmission range for COVID-19 cases.
The board is set to review the district's plan during a 6 p.m. meeting and consider any changes. District officials said they expect a large turnout from the public -- both for and against a mask mandate -- but a possible change in the policy was not unexpected.
At the beginning of August, Superintendent Charles Prijatelj said the district would "look at changing" the masking policy and "make adjustments" if the community transmission rate rose to the substantial level.
While he declined to give his opinion on masks, he said his No. 1 priority is safety.
"We need to ensure the health and safety of children," he said. "I need the board's direction as to what we want to do moving forward."
Prijatelj said he understands that a mask requirement would be controversial.
"There are a lot of opinions on both sides," Prijatelj said. "There's a lot of passion."
Board member Rick Hoover's position is that masks are essential, something he said he feels strongly about.
"This is a hot issue for me," Hoover said, adding that he has multiple family members who are teachers. "I believe we should have started mandatory masking from day one. I think it's always important to err on the side of caution, especially with the delta variant."
Hoover said it's a simple matter of listening to the science.
"Medical professionals tell us the best defense against this is masking," Hoover said. "If COVID-19 spreads when we open the doors, that will hurt the greater community."
District Community Relations Director Paula Foreman wouldn't say whether required masking is likely, but she said that changes to the plan could be made.
"The purpose of the meeting is to talk about the transmission level and what changes could be made," she said.
Foreman said she expects a large turnout from the public at the meeting. Anyone wanting to attend and/or address the board, must register by 3 p.m. Calling 814-946-8206 to register. Those registered to attend must present identification upon entry.
The meeting will be streamed live on the district's YouTube channel at youtube.com/user/AltoonaSD/.