Mask Mandate Revoked In Marietta City Schools: Superintendent

MARIETTA, GA — Marietta City Schools students and staff will no longer be required to wear face masks in school buildings or on school buses starting Saturday, Superintendent Grant Rivera said in an email to parents Thursday.

MCS implemented a temporary mask mandate back in August due to COVID-19 cases in the district and county. In the email to parents, Rivera said a significant decline in the COVID-19 positivity rate in Cobb County, a "continued local decline" in cases for school-aged children and drop in cases within the district are among the reasons for the switch to a mask-optional policy.

"Throughout this pandemic, we’ve strived to achieve the appropriate balance between our instructional needs and public health protocols," Rivera said. "The decision to transition to mask-optional is one more step in establishing some degree of normalcy in our schools, as the data indicates conditions have changed significantly from the start of the school year."

Meanwhile, Cobb Board of Commissioners Chair Lisa Cupid signed a second extension of the county's COVID-19 state of emergency Thursday night, which will keep the emergency declaration active through Nov. 16, unless extended for a third time. While Rivera said the COVID-19 positivity rate has dropped, Cobb is still considered at high risk for community transmission, according to Cobb and Douglas Public Health.

"On a personal level, I understand that some of you will read this email and be frustrated, or even angered, by this transition in our protocols, while others will be delighted and relieved," Rivera said. "I ask for your continued grace with me and with each other. Nothing about a pandemic is static — our district’s response will continue to evolve as both this virus and the data evolve."

Rivera also addressed the following:

• Contract tracing will continue and all MCS staff and students will follow the recommended seven-day and 10-day quarantine protocols.
• Any student or staff member identified as a school-based close contact and who remains asymptomatic will still have the option to participate in the "test-and-stay" model. This allows the person to attend school following a negative rapid antigen test, but they will have to wear a mask each school day of the 7-day "quarantine."
• Masks will be optional for the homecoming dance Saturday.
• MCS will continue limited non-staff volunteers in schools during the school day. Volunteers may be allowed to work in an isolated location away from other students and staff at the discretion of the principal.
• Conference week begins Oct. 18, and masks will be required for all in-person conferences inside the school building. If teachers prefer to conduct these meetings outside, masks aren't required.
• Masks will be mandatory on field trips to locations that require them.
• MCS will continue offering PCR testing Monday-Friday at Lemon Street, and weekly surveillance testing will begin in the coming weeks for families that opted into the program.

Additionally, CDPH informed MCS officials that Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for children age 5-11 could be approved for emergency use authorization Oct. 26. Details will be available in the coming days for anyone who wishes to get their child vaccinated.

"While no one can be certain of the future of this pandemic and the COVID[-19] virus, numerous epidemiologists and medical experts with whom I collaborate are hopeful that we will not have a third surge," Rivera said. "My sincere hope is a MCS mask mandate will not return in our future; however, please know that we will continue to be responsive to the data."

Related:

• Mask Mandate Issued Again In Marietta City Schools
• COVID-19 State Of Emergency Extended In Cobb For 2nd Time
• Should COVID Vaccine Be Required For GA Students? Take Our Survey