Pittsburgh Public Schools drop mask requirement for performing students only

Pittsburgh Public Schools announced Wednesday night that it is dropping mask requirements for performing arts students while they are on stage.

Theater students and their parents have been urging board members recently to drop the mandate for performers.

The announcement came at PPS’s March legislative meeting.

“We revised the safety plan at the request of the board,” said Mike McNamara, chief operating officer for the district. ”We are allowing individuals participating in any theatrical or musical performance to remove their mask while performing.”

The decision to allow theater students to remove their masks during shows comes just as many spring musicals are about to take the stage.

Students are still required to wear masks anytime they’re not on stage.

Pittsburgh is the largest district in the state still requiring students to wear masks. The district said it will revisit the issue at its April legislative meeting.

Theater students said it was not fair that athletes were allowed to go maskless during games while performing arts students were required to wear them.

In other business Wednesday, the board voted to hire BWP & Associates to conduct the search for candidates for school superintendent. Wayne Walter has been serving as interim superintendent since Anthony Hamlet resigned in October.