Whitehall-Coplay ‘staying the course’ with its health and safety plan; adopts state masking mandate

Whitehall-Coplay ‘staying the course’ with its health and safety plan; adopts state masking mandate

By Chloe Nouvelle

September 8, 2021

WHITEHALL, Pa. – The Whitehall-Coplay School District is in its second week of the new school year. 

Currently, 96% of the district’s student population has returned to school for in-person instruction. 

Whitehall-Coplay Superintendent Robert Steckel said they’re “staying the course” with their COVID-19 health and safety plan, but making adjustments for outside mandates such as the Wolf administration’s school masking requirement which went into effect on Sept. 7.

Steckel said some families opted for the district’s virtual learning program after Pennsylvania’s face covering requirement was announced.

“There’s strong feelings on both sides of the argument and here at the district, we’re just trying to do the best that we can with the information that we have,” he said.

According to Whitehall-Coplay’s COVID dashboard, as of Sept. 7, the district identified 10 cases of COVID-19. Whitehall-Coplay’s student population comprises 4,144 students. 

Given the district’s mask-optional policy was in effect last week, Steckel said he’s interested to see if the state’s current masking mandate will translate to a difference in the number of COVID cases or the amount of virus spread in Whitehall-Coplay’s schools. 

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