Canton Public Schools: Canton Public Schools Shares Update Regarding DESE Mask Mandate For 2021-22 School Year

Press release from Canton Public Schools:

Leah Comins

August 27, 2021

CANTON — Interim Superintendent Derek Folan and the Canton Public Schools report that the District will be implementing the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE) mask mandate for the 2021-22 school year. The approved CPS Face Coverings Policy aligns with the state mandate and can be found here.

On Aug. 25, DESE Commissioner Jeffrey Riley issued a mask mandate, effective immediately, for the beginning of the upcoming school year, one day after being given the authority to institute such a mandate by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

To access the DESE mask mandate and guidance for various scenarios, click here. To view Interim Superintendent Folan’s letter to the community regarding the CPS mask requirement, as approved by the School Committee on Aug. 12, please click here.

With the issuance of the mask mandate at the state level, all K-12 students, educators and staff will be required to wear a mask while in schools through Oct. 1 to ensure schools fully reopen safely and to provide time for more students and educators to get the vaccine. Visitors to the schools will also be required to wear masks during this time. Masks are additionally required for Pre-K students through the CPS policy.

According to DESE, masks may be removed indoors or other mitigation strategies may be put into place when necessary for students to participate in elective classes, such as band. Additionally, masks are required for any sports-related activity for student-athletes and coaches when indoors, in alignment with guidance provided by the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA).

Parents and guardians should note that separate from DESE’s mask mandate, under the Department of Public Health’s mask advisory, students riding any District bus or visiting any of the District’s health offices must continue to wear masks at all times while in these settings.

“With this week’s issuance of a mask mandate for schools statewide, all CPS students, faculty and staff will be required to wear a mask as we begin the school year,” Interim Superintendent Folan said. “Masking, as well as vaccination, remain important factors in stopping the spread of COVID-19 and our ability to return to normal and remain in-person this school year. The health and safety of everyone in our buildings remains our top priority, and as we approach October, we will continue to make decisions that prioritize a safe learning environment, while also consulting local health officials and analyzing COVID-19 data and vaccination rates.”

After Oct. 1, the DESE policy will allow middle and high schools to lift the mask mandate for vaccinated students and staff only if the school meets a certain vaccination rate – at least 80% of students and staff in a school building are vaccinated. Unvaccinated students and staff would still be required to wear masks. The Canton School Committee and District administration will review its Face Covering policy on Oct. 7 and will decide at that time whether it is most appropriate to keep, lift or amend the policy.

To see Canton’s vaccination data, click here. For additional information regarding COVID-19 data, local testing options and vaccination sites, please visit the Canton Board of Health’s website.

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This press release was produced by Canton Public Schools. The views expressed here are the author’s own.