Andover Schools Could Take Two Meetings To Deliberate On Masks

ANDOVER, MA — Andover Public Schools officials could take until March 3 to decide on the district's mask mandate, one School Committee member said Wednesday after Gov. Charlie Baker announced the state requirement would end Feb. 28.

Unless the School Committee votes to rescind the policy, the district's mask mandate remains in place regardless of the state requirement's expiration Feb. 28. Under the timeline outlined by School Committee Member Tracey Spruce, that means the district's mandate would last at least three additional days.

The School Committee will meet Feb. 17 to discuss the policy, the district said, but that will be the "first reading" and will not likely include a vote, Spruce said on Facebook.

"We will discuss and deliberate for the "second reading" at our meeting on March 3, and likely will take a vote at that time," Spruce said.

In response to a Facebook question, Andover Patch readers overwhelmingly supported lifting the mask mandate. Most supported making masks optional, with some parents saying their children will go to school maskless as soon as the state mandate ends, regardless of district policy.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.