North Andover School Committee Affirms State Mask Mandate

NORTH ANDOVER, MA — The North Andover School Committee voted Tuesday night to affirm the state's mask mandate, hours after the state education board authorized the policy.

Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley issued the mandate Wednesday, requiring indoor masking in all public schools through at least Oct. 1.

The committee voted unanimously in favor of a mask mandate reflecting the state policy Tuesday.

DESE's new guidance is designed to have standard rules across the state and mandates masks through Oct. 1 with districts then having the option to lift those mandates if 80 percent of students and staff at a particular school become vaccinated against the coronavirus.

"The purpose of the policy is to encourage higher vaccination rates among students and staff and to implement a uniform policy for all schools to begin the year," the commissioner's office said in a statement requesting the authorization vote on Friday.

The North Andover School Committee had scheduled their meeting to determine reopening plans for Aug. 24, just a week before the start of school, to ensure they had maximal information. The delay paid off, with the state measure following weeks of resistance by Gov. Charlie Baker to dictating rules for local districts. Many districts, including Andover, set their own mask policies.

The committee heard public comment ahead of their vote Tuesday, including a sizable contingent against a mandate. They also heard from district officials about other coronavirus protocols, outlined in this slideshow.

The full meeting is available here from WCTV.

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