Walpole School Committee Votes To End Mask Mandate 7-0

WALPOLE, MA - Cheers erupted from the standing-room-only crowd at the Walpole School Committee meeting Thursday night as the committee voted 7-0 to rescind the mask mandate when students return from February vacation.

As part of that vote, Walpole High School will be able to drop the mandatory mask policy for vaccinated students and staff on Feb. 14. The school previously had been granted a waiver by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education because its vaccination rate for students and staff is above 80 percent.

Superintendent Bridet Gough reported a "significant decline" that the number of positive COVID -19 cases in the district since the last meeting, dropping to 76 positive cases. As of Thursday morning, the number fell to 33. Symptomatic testing began last week.

The town's positivity rate dropped by 50% over the past two weeks from 20 percent to around 10 percent.

These trends, combined with the announcement by Gov. Charlie Baker and DESE Commissioner Jeff Riley to drop the statewide mask mandate as of Feb. 28. led to the vote to change the policy after consulting with state medical experts and health officials.

Gough recommended that the committee drop the mask requirement for students and staff in school buildings after consulting with the town's health department director and school district public nurse leader Kathi Garvin.

"We have weathered the surge that began back in November," she said. "Vaccination rates are rising, and we will continue to offer clinics like the one this weekend.

"We are in a different place," she said. "The context is that the states are unmasking. Now we need to work together to make that possible in our schools."

Plans are in motion to bring lunches back to their normal schedule, as well as to have the prom and a traditional graduation ceremony.

"It's not realistic to wait until the rate reaches zero," Gough added, which brought cheers and clapping from the audience.

She stressed that individuals wishing to continue to use masks, including those in high-risk populations, "must be supported in that choice." It is also recommended that unvaccinated individuals wear masks in school settings.

Mitigation strategies, including the vaccination program, testing program and good hand hygiene, will remain in effect.

Masks are still required to be worn on school buses because of the federal mandate, Gough explained.

Walpole High School had been granted a waiver because its vaccination rates reached higher than 80 percent. Gough said that the Health Department is no longer recommending a 3% positivity threshold. Its current vaccination rate is 86%.

"They do not feel that this metric is an accurate indicator in determining the positivity rate and transmission in schools," according to Gough. There have been low in-school transition rates.

Gough gave two other options. One was for WHS to begin unmasking on Feb. 28. The other was to allow vaccinated staff and students the option of not wearing a mask as of Monday. However the latter option would have triggered a permission slip policy that would have been hard to implement.

"How cool it would be for these high school students if they could go mask optional for this coming week," WHS Principal Stephen Imbusch said in a statement Gough read. "They have been so good about wearing masks. I think it would be a real bonus for them to have this privilege before other schools on Feb. 28."

Gough commended the School Committee for its efforts in bringing the district to this point.

School Committee Chair Bill Buckley said it has been "a very deliberative process" involving the superintendent, the Health Department, and Garvin.

Member Mark Breen made the motion to rescind the mask policy on Feb. 28 for all schools except for the high school, where it will begin theirs the week before vacation.

"I think we all know we're very, very tired of the pandemic," said member Nancy Gallivan. "I'd like to say I'm really proud of how Walpole has handled it in general.

"There are very few decisions in life that are 100 percent crystal clear," she continued. "And I think this is one of them. It can be viewed from many angles."

She urged people to approach this decision "with the same collegiality and sportsmanship" that has brought them through this challenging period. She asked people to be respectful of those who will continue to wear masks, as well as for those who wanted the mask policy to continue to acknowledge the cooperation of those who opposed it.

Member Kari Denitzio said that the vaccination rates for each school should continue to be announced at each meeting because they could influence a family's choice about masking. She also mentioned that spikes have consistently occurred after school vacations over the past two years.

Gough said there was not a similar concern this time, but that if rates were to climb, DESE would be notified.

Member Jennifer Geotsis said the high school students deserve the additional week because "that was the carrot we dangled" when the school reached the 80% vaccination rate.

After the vote, cheers and clapping burst from the crowded room, signaling the end of a two-year war against COVID-19.

The YouTube video of the meeting can he viewed at this link.