LYNN — The School Committee voted unanimously Thursday night to make masks optional on public-school buses, effective March 14.
This vote follows the latest guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that children no longer have to wear masks on school buses. The state Department of Public Health (DPH) also announced on Feb. 25 that masks were no longer necessary.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Patrick Tutwiler told the committee that his team supported the idea of making masks optional for students who take the bus after consulting with the Lynn Public Health Department; the latest city data shows that COVID-19 cases are trending in the right direction in the Lynn Public Schools, he said.
“The data yesterday showed only eight cases in the district,” Tutwiler said during Thursday’s meeting. “That’s low. Meanwhile, vaccination rates go up more and more, and families are participating in the at-home testing programs.”
According to the city’s COVID-19 dashboard on Thursday night, there had only been two cases of COVID-19 reported in the last 24 hours. Seventy percent of Lynn residents are classified as being “fully vaccinated” under CDC guidelines — having received one dose of a Johnson & Johnson vaccine or two doses of a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine — and 81 percent of residents have been partially vaccinated.
Citing this data, Tutwiler said he and his administrative team are in agreement that it is safe to proceed with making masks optional on school buses.
The March 14 date set by the School Committee for removing the mask requirement on school transportation aligns with its vote on Feb. 10, which makes face coverings optional in Lynn school buildings on the same day. The city’s school district opted to keep its mask mandate for two weeks following last week’s February vacation, rather than the Feb. 28 date for K-12 schools set by the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
The decision to wait was made out of an abundance of caution, with school officials citing their desire to prevent another potential outbreak of the virus. The delay was also aimed at allowing for teachers to take measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 as spring approaches.
“As we move into warmer months, teacher-mitigation strategies such as opening up windows become more available,” said School Committee member Tiffany Magnolia. “I think March 14 works as a middle ground for our constituents.”
