SWAMPSCOTT — Masks will no longer be required outdoors for students at the town’s schools, including during recess, physical education classes and during drop-off and pickup.
The School Committee voted in an emergency meeting to change its masking guidelines after the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) announced that day that it had changed its regulations Tuesday.
“This is particularly exciting for our littlest ones,” said committee Chair Amy O’Connor during Tuesday night’s Town Meeting. “For the time being, masking inside the building and on buses will remain the same.”
In an email to families on Wednesday, Superintendent Pamela Angelakis explained that masks will not be required outdoors even if social distancing cannot be maintained.
According to DESE’s guidelines, adults will still have to wear masks outdoors if they cannot maintain social distance. The new guidelines also say that students can now share classroom materials.
The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletics Association has also lifted its mask restrictions for spring sports events.
Swampscott’s Select Board and Board of Health voted last week to remove the town-wide outdoor mask mandate.
The school district will hold a vaccine clinic for students and families ages 12 and up at Swampscott High School on Friday from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Registration is required and can be completed on the district website, www.swampscottps.org.
