Facial Coverings Update August 25, 2021

 Dear North Reading Public Schools Community,

With many of our fall activities now underway we are able to look forward to our first day of school for students on September 8, 2021. The great news is that our students will all be back in school for five days per week and participating in all of the academic, athletic, and extra-curricular activities as they would in a typical year. However, due to our continued response to COVID-19, there will be some modifications to our operations as we begin this fall.

As a follow up to my recent correspondence I am writing today to share that the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted on Tuesday to mandate facial coverings for all students and staff, effective today, through at least October 1, 2021. Please review the attached document for the full details about this requirement, which include the following:

• Effective immediately, public school students (age 5 and above) and staff in all grades are required to wear masks indoors in schools, and when on school buses and vans.
  
• It is strongly recommended that students younger than age 5 also wear a mask in school.
  
• Students and staff who cannot wear a mask for medical reasons, and students who cannot wear a mask for behavioral reasons, are exempted from the requirement. (Please contact your building Principal if these medical or behavioral exceptions are applicable for your child.)
  
• Masks are not required when outdoors.
  
• All visitors are also expected to wear a mask in school buildings. 
  
• Masks should cover an individual’s nose and mouth. For more information about appropriate mask use, please see: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019- ncov/downloads/cloth-face-covering.pdf
  

As the document states, the mask requirement will be in place until at least October 1, 2021. The Commissioner will revisit the requirement in the near future to revise it as warranted by public health data. 

We are aware of concerns related to these October 1st metrics and procedures and we will continue to monitor these decisions as that date approaches. In addition, we recognize that there are many opinions on this topic and we have valued hearing from so many members of our school community through our public forums and via phone and email. We ask for your continued cooperation in implementing these additional requirements as we all work together to keep our students safe and in school as much as possible this fall.

Thank you and be well,

Dr. Daly