January 25, 2022 By Carol Britton Meyer
Emails went out recently to parents of students that weren't showing up as vaccinated in the Hingham Public Schools data base of vaccination information on students and teachers, Interim Supt. of Schools Gary Maestas reported at Monday's School Committee meeting.
"A large number of families have supplied their children's vaccination status," he said. Tomorrow is the date by which parents and guardians have been asked to provide that information.
Maestas also presented an overall HPS vaccination status update. Massachusetts school districts still have the option of requesting a waiver of the current mask mandate from the state for school buildings in which at least 80 percent of students and staff combined are vaccinated, with guidance from local health officials.
The School Committee authorized Maestas to apply for waivers for Hingham High School, based on the numbers below, and also for the Hingham Middle School when it meets that threshold. Commissioner of Education Jeffrey Riley recently extended the statewide public schools face mask mandate to Feb. 28 unless a waiver is granted.
That said, the School Committee is required through an agreement with the Hingham Education Association to first seek its approval before making any changes to the current HPS mask policy. The advice of the medical team that was assembled some time ago to provide input on this kind of decision will also be sought.
Vaccinated teachers in Hingham have been asked to provide proof of vaccination, and the results as of Monday indicate the following number of vaccinated teaching staff. Student vaccination data is also included for each school, provided by Maestas.
- Hingham High School -- 89 percent teachers, 90 percent students;
- Hingham Middle School -- 89 percent teachers, 70.3 percent students;
- Plymouth River School -- 75 percent teachers, 55 percent students;
- Foster School -- 66 percent teachers, 56 percent students;
- East School -- 91 percent teachers, 62 percent students;
- South School -- 100 percent teachers, 53 percent students.
"It's taken a lot of hard work to get to this point and to get children vaccinated," Maestas said.
He went on to share what he called one of his main concerns for the time when the School Committee revisits its mask policy. "I've heard from parents who have children who can't be vaccinated due to medical conditions, and it would be difficult if unvaccinated students were to be required to wear face masks [once the overall mask mandate was lifted and vaccinated students were no longer required to wear them]."
For that reason, Maestas recommended that when the time comes to make that decision, an optional mask policy be considered. "We don't want to see kids ridiculed because other kids would know they were unvaccinated because they would be wearing face masks," he explained. "We don't want kids feeling uncomfortable coming to school wearing a mask, which is a family decision [whether or not to wear one]."
There will be further discussion at a later date.
School Committee Chair Kerry Ni shared that she has received emails from parents asking that metrics be set at which time the mask mandate would be dropped once the state mandate is lifted. However, she said, "We did learn earlier that doing so could backfire. Because [circumstances do change], we need to remain flexible."
During the question and comment period at the beginning of the meeting, Heather Chisholm -- who identified herself as a parent and a worker in the health care field -- said in part during a lengthy statement that "this virus should no longer be a burden for our children . . . although we need to be vigilant."
She went on to say that in her opinion, the current virus is similar to the flu, noting that both the unvaccinated and the vaccinated can transmit it. "Cloth masks do little to prevent the spread," she said. "Our children have become disengaged, unmotivated, and [are experiencing] social-emotional issues. There's a loss of human connection when you wear a face mask.
"Most adults can go about their normal lives," she said, "but that's not the case for students, who outside the school setting can attend events at a packed stadium or eat in a restaurant. . . . There are a rapidly declining number of cases, and evidence that we are entering [the end of the pandemic]."
Parent Lauren Burm, after agreeing with Chisholm, went on to suggest that the School Committee work with the Hingham Board of Health to schedule a vaccine clinic for children. "Everyone should make their own decision, but I'm concerned about the [current vaccination rates]," she said.
In response, Maestas said that in cooperation with the Hingham Health Department, a request has been made with the state for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to hold a vaccination clinic for Hingham students on a weekend. More details will be available soon.