Melrose Schools To Keep Masking, Even With Opt Out Option

MELROSE, MA — Massachusetts schools continue to be under a mask mandate through at least October. But some will have the option of asking out of the newly extended state requirement.

Melrose Public Schools will not be one of the districts seeking an exemption.

Superintendent Julie Kukenberger told Patch Tuesday morning she won't be advising the School Committee to apply to get out of the mask mandate due to a number of factors, not the least of which is the delta variant.

"At this time with our numbers in the Melrose Public Schools looking the way they do, this isn't something I would recommend," Kukenberger said.

The district has reported 30 positive COVID-19 results this month, with the usual increase coming about three weeks after a holiday, in this case Labor Day. Twenty-six of the cases are in-person students.

"The numbers have increased quickly in the last week which is also not a surprise," Kukenberger said, noting some cases are from the same households.

The state on Monday extended its mask mandate, but allowed an out for schools that have an 80 percent vaccination rate among students and staff. That limits the possibility only to high schools and middle schools since vaccinations aren't approved for children under 12 — and most sixth-graders are 11.

"But someone turns 12 every day," Kukenberger noted with optimism.

More than 80 percent of district staff reported being vaccinated as of Sept. 19.

But even vaccinated people have experienced breakthrough COVID-19 infections — 10 percent of the district's positive results this month have been breakthrough cases. Masks are an added layer of protection against getting the virus, as well as things like the flu, Kukenberger said.

The district is still taking other mitigation techniques to keep kids in school while keeping them safe. Kukenberger called the new test-and-stay program a success.

The program rapid-tests students who are deemed close contacts, then they return to class if the result comes back negative. On Monday, 37 close contacts were tested and only one was positive, so the three dozen other students didn't even miss a full school day.

Still, students deemed close contacts can only attend school and school-sponsored events, not extracurricular activities outside of the school department, sleepovers, travel sports or things like that.

Mike Carraggi can be reached at mike.carraggi@patch.com. Follow him on Twitter @PatchCarraggi and Instagram at Melrose Happening. Subscribe to Melrose Patch for free local news and alerts and like us on Facebook.