PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Starting Wednesday, Philadelphia's public and archdiocese schools join New Jersey schools and many suburban schools in going mask-optional in response to declining COVID-19 case counts. It is the first time this school year that students and staffers have not been required to wear them.
Students can still wear masks if they choose to, but at Barry Elementary School at 59th and Race streets, principal KaTiedra Argro says she has been pretty sure her students will choose not to.
“I think more of the staff will still wear it, just to wait and see what happens. But I’m sure the students are taking the mask off,” she said. “Their parents may want them to wear the masks but when the students are given the option to wear them, they won’t.”
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In a letter to parents, Superintendent William Hite said, COVID-19 case counts are consistently low enough to allow the masks to come off.
Argro says that doesn’t mean students can completely let their guards down.
“We will always encourage the scholars that do not mask still to distance, when they’re talking about sharing, about washing hands and [things] of that nature. But I think the kids are more happy to see each other without the masks and to have some sense of normalcy.”
But beware: The rules will be changing again. Masks will have to go back on between April 18 and April 22, during the week after spring break.
Argro says she is getting ready.
“We are already, as principals, thinking about systems to effectively use to make sure that happens after spring break.”
For now, Argro says, with the guidance constantly changing, administrators need to remain flexible and patient.
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