Students and teachers across the country are returning to the classroom and school committees from coast to coast are taking efforts, sometimes controversially, to minimize the chances of them spreading COVID-19 when they get there.
Though mask policies are expected to receive some pushback in area school districts, local committees seem to have been spared the worst of the public contentiousness making national headlines. Districts across Franklin County voted overwhelmingly to require masks as a way to guard against the novel coronavirus and curb the spread of the highly contagious delta variant, which has caused surges of cases around the United States and the world.
The Greenfield School Department will continue to follow the same policy voted on by the School Committee in May, according to Judy Houle, who served as interim superintendent until Friday.
Per the policy, face coverings must be worn by all individuals in school buildings, on school grounds and on school transportation, even when social distancing can be observed. That said, with written permission from a physician, individuals may be excused from the requirement under certain exemptions, including medical or behavioral challenges making it unsafe to wear a face covering.
Additionally, face coverings will not be required when social distancing is enforced during mask breaks, while eating or drinking, while outside at recess, or for athletes in active play outdoors. Spectators, chaperones, coaches, staff, referees, umpires and other officials who can meet the district’s 6-foot distancing guidelines will also not be required a face covering.
The district will also continue to do pool testing, Houle said, and is participating in the state’s COVID-19 safety program, which provides support and guidance on symptomatic testing and identifying close contacts, as well as the resources for doing so. High-touch surfaces will also continue to be routinely cleaned.
“It’s one of those things where we all have to work together to make sure our children are safe,” she said. “Masking, I think, is important and a pretty easy way to mitigate (spread).”
Interested parents will have to register their children for pool testing, if they wish to participate. Houle noted that those who registered last year will have to re-register.
The Pioneer Valley Regional School District School Committee voted unanimously on Thursday to implement a new COVID-19 Health and Safety Policy. Given the most recent delta variant of COVID-19 and associated science that shows viral spread is possible regardless of vaccination status, District Nurse Carla Simpson recommended a policy for universal masking throughout the district.
Additionally, Simpson said Pioneer will be adding a district-wide testing program for the upcoming school year to further enhance COVID-19 mitigation strategies and maintain a close eye on transmission levels.
“The Pioneer Valley Regional School District is committed to providing a safe environment as schools reopen during the COVID-19 pandemic,” School Committee Chair Julie Burke said, reading from the policy on Thursday. “According to public health experts, one of the best ways to stop the spread of coronavirus and to keep members of our school community safe is the use of face masks or face coverings.”
Per the policy, face coverings must secure with ear loops or bands and must cover the mouth and nose. Bandanas or neck gaiters are not permitted. Face coverings will be required indoors for all students in preschool through 12th grade, as well as all adults, including educators, staff, visitors and volunteers — regardless of vaccination status. Face coverings will also be required while using school transportation. They will not be required outdoors or while eating.
Exceptions to mask requirements will be made for those of whom it is not possible due to documented medical conditions or behavioral needs. Additionally, students will be supported in their individual circumstances and developmental levels to comply with mask wearing.
“Our nursing team feels strongly that by implementing these strategies in a coordinated effort with faculty/staff, administration, students/families, school committee, and local boards of health, we can have another successful year of in-person learning,” Simpson said.
The Ralph C. Mahar Regional School Committee voted earlier this week to start the academic year requiring students, staff and visitors to wear masks indoors.
Acknowledging the mask mandate will likely be met with resistance by some, the committee plans to revisit the issue at its September meeting.
Chair Peter Cross joined members Carla Halpern, Patricia Smith, Lynn Peredina and Maryanne Reynolds in voting for the mask requirements. Shannon Johnson voted against the motion and Patrick Davis abstained.
The general consensus among committee members was that vaccination and mask-wearing are vital to curbing the spread of the novel coronavirus, but there was some disagreement about mandates.
Smith said the world is seeing a surge of the delta variant because many people refuse to get vaccinated.
“And we need to encourage all members of our community — students, staff, all of us — to become vaccinated. At some point, I would like to have a discussion about there being consequences for people who choose to not do that,” she said, adding that she understands there may be legal barriers. “We have to go back to masking. I think there is nothing else that we can do.”
Halpern said she completely agrees with Smith. She said though vaccination does not prevent infection or transmission or certain variants, it does prevent serious illness and death. She acknowledged that some people are immunocompromised and cannot receive the vaccine. She said the committee has a responsibility to have a mask mandate at the school.
“I don’t like wearing a mask. I don’t find it fun. I don’t find it comfortable. My kids don’t like it. But they will. And I will do it because it’s what we have to do,” Halpern said. “Also, I’m going to put this on the record — Gov. Baker is a coward. He should have put in a mask mandate and he is declining to do so because he doesn’t want to lose voters because nobody likes a mask mandate, but we need to do that.”
“Well, that just took a different turn,” Davis said in response. He said he wanted it on record that he did not appreciate Halpern’s comments, feeling they were misplaced.
“This is not the venue to place value judgments on other people’s choices,” Davis said, adding that his entire family is vaccinated except for his mother, who is immunocompromised.
Davis also said he does not want to take away people’s freedom, calling a mandate “a slippery slope.”
Halpern said enforcing a mask mandate is no different than enforcing a dress code.
All five school committees and the health boards of Deerfield, Whately, Sunderland and Conway voted Wednesday to again require students and staff to wear masks while inside buildings to start the school year, with exceptions for medical or special needs. The policy will be revisited monthly based on vaccination rates and regional case levels.
Members of the public voiced their displeasure with the policy at the meeting, but Deerfield Selectboard member and Board of Health Chair Carolyn Shores Ness emphasized this measure is intended to protect children and keep the schools open.
“The priority is to lower the risk as much as possible for all our kids and also to keep the schools open,” Shores Ness said. “I think the schools are making a real effort to have a normal learning year, with the exception of having to wear masks.”
Many school committee and board of health members said they themselves dislike wearing masks, but it is a necessary step with children’s safety on the line.
“I hate wearing the mask,” said Deerfield Board of Health member and Selectboard Chair Dave Wolfram. “I don’t know if I could live with myself if we ended up losing a 10-, 11-, 12-year-old child in one of our schools.”
Superintendent Darius Modestow said students have adapted to learning with masks since last September.
“Starting schools with masks will be the least disruptive to education,” Modestow said in a phone interview. “We successfully made ground with education with masks on. I think we’ll be OK.”
He said last year’s experience will “absolutely” help them navigate the delta variant’s spread and he is hopeful to remove the mask requirements in the future.
“This is just another stage as we navigate the pandemic,” Modestow said. “My goal is to create an avenue to remove masks. Whether that’s through vaccinations or testing rates, that’s what we’re going to iron out.”
When school is back in session this fall, the Gill-Montague Regional School District will continue to follow the same COVID-19 health safety guidelines that it used in the spring and for summer education.
Superintendent Brian Beck announced this decision during a virtual School Committee meeting earlier this month after reviewing state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) guidelines and consulting with regional health officials.
Additionally, schools will continue pool and rapid COVID-19 testing and students are being asked to continue daily self-checks for symptoms at home. Guidelines dictate that students, staff and visitors must wear masks and maintain at least 3 feet of social distancing, though that distance increases to 6 feet while eating indoors. On buses to and from school, windows will be rolled down and masks will be required. Students will not be required to wear masks in outdoor settings.
Safely learning in-person is Mohawk Trail and Hawlemont regional school districts’ highest priority this year. The districts are implementing the “Fab Five” — five protocols they will use to stop the transmission of COVID-19.
Everyone in school buildings is expected to maintain a physical distance of at least 3 feet, wear masks, frequently wash their hands and stay home if they’re not feeling well, according to Superintendent Sheryl Stanton at a town hall meeting on Wednesday.
“Those are the Fab Four, and then add vaccination and we have the Fab Five,” Stanton said. “It is important that we keep the layered mitigation strategies in place, so that if we do have an asymptomatic positive person in our schools, in our school building, then we are reducing our risk of spreading COVID-19 through all of the other things we’re doing.
“It isn’t that we do just one thing, we do them all, and when we do them all well, we reduce our chance of either catching COVID-19 or spreading COVID-19,” she continued.
All students in preschool and up will be required to wear masks while indoors. Masks must follow Centers with Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, meaning neck gaiters are not permitted.
Students will be able to take their masks off while outdoors. Outside learning, outside recess and outside lunch will be implemented as much as possible for all students. No outside event requires a mask, and students will have mask breaks during the day.
The districts are actively tracking COVID-19 data. The COVID-19 Planning Task Force will continue to meet weekly to assess state, town and school numbers.
“We’re going to be reviewing the transmission data in our district and within our schools,” School Committee Chair Martha Thurber said, in order to form recommendations to propose to the district if need be.
For more information about the Mohawk Trail and Hawlemont regional school districts’ reopening plan, visit mtrsd.org/COVID-19-Information.
Chief of General Pediatrics Dr. John O’Reilly said COVID-19 cases are increasing and schools need to take precautions to protect children under 12, who are still ineligible for vaccination.
“Many children returning to school this fall will be unvaccinated. … This variant is attacking younger patients, and it is making them sicker much faster than the original COVID-19 virus,” O’Reilly said. “We know the science tells us that face masks work to protect not only your children, but masks will also potentially protect their classmates and teachers.”
O’Reilly recommends parents pack multiple masks for their children and to teach them the concept of social distancing so they can safely distance themselves at school.
“You can practice social distancing at home by engaging a younger child’s imagination and creativity,” O’Reilly said. “They can turn on their force field to be sure that they can keep 3 feet away from others in school.”
O’Reilly said the most important thing is for parents to get their children vaccinated when it becomes available.
“Vaccinating children when they are eligible not only protects them, it protects their classmates who cannot get vaccinated due to medical conditions, and it protects every adult your child interacts with,” O’Reilly said. “The pandemic has been stressful for everyone, and the return to in-person schooling may be stressful for your child. They may need a big hug from a supportive caregiver after a long school day, and vaccinating your child makes that hug safe for both your child and the caregiver.”
Franklin County Technical School could not be reached for comment about its policies for the upcoming school year by deadline on Friday.