Masking now optional at West York School District after school board amends health plan

The West York School Board voted 5-4 to make masking in the district optional for all students, staff and visitors during Tuesday night's board meeting. 

The board approved changes to the health and safety plan it created to be eligible for federal stimulus funding in June.

The board removed sections of the plan that detail the correct wearing of masks and an acknowledgement that they will comply with "any lawfully issued directive that may impose a face mask requirement in the future." The new policy was implemented on Wednesday. 

The change comes while the state Supreme Court deliberates over the validity of Health Secretary Alison Beam's statewide masking mandate. 

Board vice president George Margetas said he doesn't believe the masking mandate is legal, as it never came through state legislature. 

"It's not about the masks, it's about choice," Margetas said. "It's about giving people the ability to do what they think is right with their health and safety." 

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Margetas said he was encouraged by other dissenting districts, such as Red Lion, which does not fully enforce mask mandates in schools. 

The school district has been a dissenting voice to the mask mandate, joining in on a lawsuit challenging the mandate along with Chestnut Ridge School District in Bedford County and Penncrest School District in Crawford County.

The policy is changing after three new members were elected to the board, Shawn Harlacher, Wesley Meyers and Daniel Rice, all of whom ran on the platform to make masking optional. 

West York Superintendent Todd Davies sent out a notification on Wednesday to inform families of the new policy, and stated masks are still required on buses and vans. 

"As always, we will fully support and protect the choice of each family and student whether it be to wear a face-covering or to not wear a face-covering," Davies wrote in the statement.