One month after a board member made a motion to give parents the option to exempt their child from wearing a mask in school, Pleasant Valley School District’s administration recommended Thursday continuing to comply with the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s order and requiring a doctor’s approval for a medical exemption.

“Our (COVID-19) numbers are very low and I believe that’s because we have followed the guidelines and protocols to this point,” Dr. Charlene Brennan, acting superintendent, said.

Brennan said part of her research over the last month included a discussion with the district’s liability insurance carrier, CM Regent. The company, Brennan said, recommended complying with the order.

“Purposefully ignoring it could be putting the district in a situation where it is liable,” Brennan said.

Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth Court heard arguments Wednesday on whether the Wolf administration had the legal right to impose a mask mandate on K-12 schools and child care facilities to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

A pair of lawsuits was filed by parents who contend that masks interfere with their children’s breathing and cause other problems. The plaintiffs include the GOP leader of the state Senate, Jake Corman, R-Centre.

“I think we need to let the legal process play out,” Brennan told the board.

The Commonwealth Court has yet to rule on the lawsuits.

“I think it’s a 50-50 proposition what comes out of it,” Pleasant Valley Solicitor Mark Fitzgerald said. “As for when that ruling could come, it could be days, weeks or hours. If they render the determination that the order is invalid, the board really doesn’t have to do anything. You just go back to the health and safety plan that predated the order.”

That plan was to leave the decision whether or not a child would wear a mask up to the parents.

Last month, Director Laura Jecker made a motion, seconded by Todd Kresge, to allow parents to exempt their child from wearing a mask in school without a doctor’s approval. The motion was eventually tabled by a 7-2 vote, with Jecker and Kresge voting no.

Brennan said she had a discussion with school nurses, who expressed concern about a parental opt-out form while the state order is still in place.

“So far everything has worked well for us,” she said. “We are using our COVID-19 decision trees and that has worked out. A parent opt-out form could change much of that. Quarantine protocols are very different for nonmasked individuals than those wearing face coverings and we want our students in the seats, not sitting at home.”