Good afternoon,
As we begin our first fall events tomorrow with Football and with all sports, the Acceleration Academy, and events such as orientations and walk-abouts set to begin next week, it is important to clarify and communicate what our “strong recommendation” for masking looks like at this time.
While the School Committee’s vote on Monday evening stopped short of requiring/mandating masks it is important to understand that even the DESE/DPH guidance we are following appears to be pivoting to a stronger requirement for the unvaccinated and Governor Baker is stating that most schools are requiring masks for the unvaccinated. At this time we are providing the following recommendations:
All students in grades PreK-6 are strongly recommended to wear a mask. In addition, Teachers, Administrators, and Staff who are working with students in those grades are also strongly recommended to wear a mask when working closely with unvaccinated students.
Students and staff in all other grades, including the fully vaccinated, given the recent number of breakthrough cases in our community (fully vaccinated individuals who have tested positive) should strongly consider wearing a mask, especially if we continue to see the number of positive cases rise. Students and staff will need a mask to wear when on buses and for the nurse’s office and should also consider wearing masks in common areas such as hallways and when entering and exiting the building when they are in close proximity to many other individuals.
As school begins, if we see the number of positive cases rising or instances of in school transmission, we will continually revisit our recommendations.
I know that I will resume wearing a mask, especially in the presence of unvaccinated students and staff, as students arrive next week and encourage other fully vaccinated students and staff to consider doing so in order to ensure the safety of those who have not had the opportunity to be vaccinated.
We also strongly encourage everyone who is eligible to be vaccinated to do so, including our next vaccination opportunity at the Batchelder School on Wednesday, August 25, 2021 from 5pm-7pm. This is a community event that we will be further advertising and students and eligible community members can come to receive the free vaccination for COVID-19.
Our number 1 goal is student safety. Our 1A goal (very close behind) is keeping all students in school. The following procedures will be in place beginning tomorrow, August 20,2021 in order to ensure that students will be able to remain in school safely as much as possible.
Beginning tomorrow, August 20, 2021, all students on buses or school transportation will be required to wear a mask (per federal mandate). Masks will also be required in the nurse’s office at all times (per federal mandate)
All visitors will be required to wear a mask when indoors at all times. This includes spectators at indoor events, etc.
Principals will continue to limit in person visitors to the schools. This is to ensure that students and staff have the safest environment for learning. More information will be forthcoming from individual schools.
The Cape Ann League has decided that student athletes will follow the masking requirements of the home district. This would mean that students participating in an indoor sport (example: Volleyball) would mask when playing in a district where there is a mask requirement.
The decision to wear a mask will certainly impact others in the school community. Please consider the following:
If students are three feet apart and both are wearing a mask, and a positive individual is identified, then any asymptomatic students or staff do not need to be considered close contacts (and would be able to remain in school).
Through continued conversations with our Public Health Nurse and Director of Public Health there is clear support for indoor masking as a mitigation strategy and vaccinations for everyone who is eligible.
Our local numbers indicate that in recent weeks eight (8) unvaccinated children under 11 in North Reading and seven (7) students in the 16-19 range (2 unvaccinated and 5 vaccinated) have tested positive
I am aware of three staff members (all vaccinated) who have recently tested positive. Though the symptoms have been reported as mild, this is still important information to consider with these “breakthrough” cases.
Throughout this pandemic we have followed the Department of Public Health and Department of Elementary and Secondary Education guidelines and that has allowed our students to be safe and to be in school as much as possible. The School Committee voted on Monday to continue to follow the DPH/DESE guidance. The strong recommendations included here continue to promote our overall commitment to the safety and staff of our students while still allowing parents to make the best decisions for their children with consideration for the impact of those decisions on our student body as a whole.
Thank you and be well,
Dr. Daly
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