In an effort to assist families in planning for the start of the school year, I wanted to provide some additional information about the protocols that will be in place for universal masking in our K-12 indoor spaces, and on school district buses, in accordance with the WSD Board approved Health and Safety plan.

Mask Requirement Protocols

During Substantial/High levels of transmission in Berks County, as determined by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, students, staff and visitors will be required to wear a mask while in the school building. This includes ALL indoor events.  Masks will be readily available at the building. 

• Should a student refuse to wear an appropriate mask or face covering while they are in the building, the student will be separated from other students and parents will be contacted to pick up the student. 
• Refusal to follow requirements of the district Health and Safety Plan constitutes an act of insubordination, which is subject to consequences outlined in the Code of Conduct, published in the Student Handbook.
• Parents picking up students for refusal to wear a mask in the building will be informed that their child will have the opportunity to return to the building the following day and will be required to  follow the masking requirement. 
• Should a student continue to refuse to comply with the Health and Safety Plan, the student will be enrolled in the Wilson Virtual Academy for the remainder of the semester.

During Substantial/High levels of transmission in Berks County, students will be required to wear a mask to ride the bus. Masks will be readily available on the bus for student use. 

• Should a student refuse to wear an appropriate mask or face covering, they will not be permitted to board the bus. Parents would be expected to transport their child to school, where they will be expected to comply with the current masking requirements.

Mask Exemption Process

All students and staff returning to school for in-person learning will be required to follow the guidelines outlined in the District Health and Safety Plan approved by the Wilson School Board of Directors on August 16, 2021.  This includes the universal wearing of masks inside district buildings/facilities and on school buses while Berks County is in a substantial or high level of transmission according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  When transmission levels return to moderate/low levels according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), masks will be recommended but optional inside district buildings/facilities and on school buses.

Families have the option to enroll in the Wilson Virtual Academy (WVA) as an alternative to in-person instruction should their personal beliefs and/or a medical condition preclude adherence to the district’s Health and Safety Plan. Parents who would like to enroll their child in WVA can contact Jessica Knott at knojes@wilsonsd.org.

Students who have a legitimate, documented medical condition or disability that precludes them from complying with the district’s masking requirement may provide a medical excuse note from the treating medical provider, which will be reviewed by the administrative team.  In some but not all situations, reasonable accommodations may be made through the Chapter 15/504 Accommodations process, or through a revision to the student’s current IEP.

We look forward to a safe return to in-person learning this year, and appreciate our community’s cooperation, support and patience as we work through this ongoing and complex situation.