PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A federal judge is hearing arguments on whether a Montgomery County school district’s move to makes masks optional is a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The Perkiomen Valley School board voted to go mask-optional starting on January 24.
Families of three students in the Perkiomen Valley School District filed a suit claiming that move violates the ADA.
Related
A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order last week, requiring masks in all Perkiomen Valley school buildings and at all activities.
A couple dozen Perkiomen Valley students came to watch the hearing Friday.
"I thought the board did the right thing," said PVHS Junior Nate Fisher.
"Now three people have made a decision for thousands of people in the district. So that's what's gonna set us off."
Related
In this hearing, Perkiomen Valley Superintendent Barb Russell walked through each step the district took over the past two years of the pandemic, explaining how decisions have been made to benefit students.
Lawyers for the families who are asking to return to masks-for-all note the CDC, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, and the Montgomery County Office of Public Health all recommend universal masking in schools as part of efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Related
Several times, Dr. Russell mentioned that while they are concerned about student safety, there is growing evidence of increased mental health concerns for students, especially at the secondary level.
But federal judge Wendy Beetlestone, clearly frustrated with the school district lawyers' line of questioning, made it clear her decisions focused solely on ADA claims and not on the risk/benefit of masks.
Beetlestone said she plans to rule Monday.
