Wilmington Schools To Review Options After Mask Mandate Extension

WILMINGTON, 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.

Wilmington Public Schools officials have not decided whether the district will seek an exemption, if any school is eligible, a district official said.

The School Committee, district health officials and the town health director will review the possibility at an October meeting, according to Tracy Ingersoll, the superintendent's executive assistant.

The state extended its mask mandate on Monday, but allowed an out for schools that have an 80 percent vaccination rate among students and staff. Schools need to meet that threshold by Oct. 15 to qualify. 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.

Ingersoll did not say whether any district schools meet the 80 percent threshold, but according to state data, only 72 percent of the town's 16- to 19-year-olds are fully vaccinated, as of Sept. 21. The percentage of 12- to 16-year-olds is even lower, just 56 percent.

The next school committee meeting is scheduled for Oct. 13, but the agenda for that meeting is not yet available. Patch will provide an update when the agenda is posted.

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