San Francisco Schools To Keep Masks As California Ditches Them

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Even as the Golden State said it will lift its indoor mask mandate for schoolchildren March 11, San Francisco kids will have to keep wearing them through the end of the school year.

That's according to Gabriela López, president of the San Francisco Unified School District board, who texted The Standard: “We are all in agreement that as a district, we want to keep this important safety tool of mask wearing in place until the end of the school year."

The district superintendent, district staff, Board of Education leaders and the teacher’s union all favor keeping children masked, López said.

As San Diego Patch reported Monday, the state is preparing to lift its indoor mask mandate for unvaccinated residents March 1, a major step toward unwinding the state's stringent mask rules.

"California continues to adjust our policies based on the latest data and science, applying what we've learned over the past two years to guide our response to the pandemic," Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday in a joint statement along with the governors of Washington and Oregon.

The state's new guidance will make face coverings a recommendation rather than a requirement at most indoor spaces starting Tuesday, and at schools starting at 11:59 p.m. March 11, regardless of vaccination status. Exceptions include places with high-transmission such as public transit, emergency shelters, health care settings, correctional facilities, homeless shelters and long-term care facilities. Counties and businesses can also set their own mask rules.

Moments after the announcement, the California Teachers Association urged school districts to "proceed with caution."

"Simply put, while some students are ready to immediately remove their masks, others remain very afraid," CTA President E. Toby Boyd said in a statement. "We urge local school districts to continue to work with educators and families and to act cautiously while prioritizing the safety of students, educators and their families."

Patch staffer Kat Schuster contributed reporting.