MALDEN — There has been a lot of debate in local towns around the subject of masks in schools, but local governance might not ultimately be calling the shots.
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is looking to ensure that they are able to mandate masks in schools this fall. State Education Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley will ask the board of DESE to grant him authority to mandate masks for all public K-12 students, educators and staff through October 1 to ensure schools fully reopen safely and to provide time for more students and educators to get vaccinated.
This mandate is intended to last until October 1st, which then will allow middle and high schools to lift the mask mandate for vaccinated students and staff only if the school reaches an 80 percent vaccination rate. Unvaccinated students and staff would still be required to wear masks.
The mandate would also include exceptions for students who cannot wear a mask due to medical conditions or behavioral needs. The purpose of the policy is to encourage higher vaccination rates among students and staff and to implement a uniform policy for all schools to be able to follow for the beginning of the year. The mandate will only apply in indoor areas and to children five years of age or older.
“While Massachusetts leads the nation in vaccination rates, we are seeing a recent rise in COVID-19 cases because we still need more people to get vaccinated,” said Gov. Charlie Baker. “This step will increase vaccinations among our students and school staff and ensure that we have a safe school reopening. Vaccinations are the best way to keep everyone in the commonwealth safe, and we will continue to work with school districts to offer vaccination clinics at schools across the commonwealth.”
Education Secretary James Peyser made special note of the fact that Massachusetts boasts some of the best vaccination rates in the country when it comes to the youth.
“The vaccination rates among young people in Massachusetts are among the highest in the nation, with 65 percent of 12-15-year-olds vaccinated, but we still need to do more to make sure our young people and educators are protected from COVID-19,” said Peyser. “Instituting universal masking mandates to further encourage vaccination rates among everyone in our schools is one measure we can take now.”
Commissioner Riley asked the board to meet on Tuesday, August 24, to vote to give him the authority to institute the mask mandate.
Sam Minton can be reached at [email protected].
