Wednesday evening brought about a change in the Ringgold School District. School Directors voted to amend the health and safety plan and require masks to be worn by students and staff immediately. This comes after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court threw out on Friday, the mandatory mask requirement implemented by the Wolf administration back in August. A last minute addition to the agenda passed by a 5-4 vote. Public comment on the new agenda item was split evenly with support for and against the wearing of masks by students. A roll call vote determined the change in policy by the same 5-4 margin. Superintendent Randall Skrinjorich pointed to several issues as reason for the change. A large increase in positive cases and quarantine of students after the holiday drew attention to the issue. Had masks not been returned for use, Skrinjorich indicated that following state guidelines, not wearing masks would increase the number of close contacts with infected individuals and cause increases quarantines. Finally Skrinjorich indicated that the safety of students and staff are of utmost concern. The district does not want to be in a position where students would not be able to learn because of a lack of teachers or support staff and buildings would have to close. In other district business, the board accepted the resignation of Rachel Roberts. She is the teacher that allegedly assaulted a student in her classroom. The district had no comment on the resignation stating that they do not comment on employee matters.