February 9, 2022 By Carol Britton Meyer
Department of Elementary & Secondary Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley announced today, Feb. 9, that the statewide K-12 mask mandate will be lifted for students and staff in Massachusetts public schools effective Feb. 28, with some exceptions that are in accordance with DESE's COVID protocols.
This decision was made in consultation with infectious disease physicians, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and other medical experts.
Massachusetts is among the states with the highest vaccination rates for young people and is a national leader in overall vaccinations, according to statistics, with a new at-home COVID testing program in place for public schools' students and educators.
Based on those high vaccination rates and the new testing program, Gov. Charlie Baker said today that it's time to lift the mask mandate in the public schools "and give students and staff a sense of normalcy after dealing with tremendous challenges over the past two years. We have all the tools to keep schools safe as we move into dealing with the next phase of managing COVID."
The Hingham School Committee will discuss and do a second reading of its face coverings policy (https://z2policy.ctspublish.com/masc/browse/hinghamset/hingham/EBCFA) this Friday, Feb. 11, during a remote meeting and will also talk about a proposed Overnight Field Trip COVID Travel Policy. Check
https://www.hingham-ma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02112022-7218 for how to join the meeting.
Following an executive session for the purposes of discussing superintendent contract negotiations, the Committee will return to open session on Friday to discuss a proposed superintendent contract with Dr. Margaret Adams, who was recently named the new superintendent of schools for Hingham starting in the 2022-2023 school year.
In response to an inquiry, School Committee Chair Kerry Ni told the Hingham Anchor that the Committee "is taking all necessary steps to ensure that students and staff will be able to go mask-optional as soon as it is appropriate."
In addition to the DESE mask mandate, the Committee's face coverings policy requires everyone in school buildings to wear masks, with a few exceptions, and that policy will need to be rescinded before Hingham Public Schools can go mask-optional, Ni explained.
This discussion began at Monday's School Committee meeting by doing a first reading of the HPS policy. "We also heard the results of a survey conducted by the Student Advisory Committee at the High School, and heard comments from parents," Ni said.
On Tuesday, Interim Supt. of Schools Gary Maestas and Ni met with representatives from the Hingham Education Association to gather their input about a potential policy change, and on Thursday, Maestas, Ni, and School Committee member Jen Benham will meet with the Health and Education Task Force -- composed of medical professionals and educators who provided their input earlier to the School Committee -- to gather their input.
"At Friday's meeting, the Committee will discuss all of the feedback we have received and potentially vote on a policy change," Ni said
Unmask out children