Woburn Public Schools To Open Year With Mask Mandate

WOBURN, MA — Woburn Public Schools will begin the year with a universal mask mandate after the School Committee voted to put one in place Tuesday night.

The mandate lasts until Oct. 31. It applies regardless of vaccination status.

The committee did not nail down the details of the mandate, instead sending it to the policy subcommittee and setting a Sept. 2 special meeting to decide on a written rule.

The first day of school in Woburn is Sept. 9, one week later.

The committee voted unanimously to put in place the mandate after hearing dozens of spoken and written comments both for and against. The Board of Health, Mayor Scott Galvin and Superintendent Matthew Crowley all recommended putting in place a mandate.

The committee also put together a working group to discuss a proposal from public commenter Dr. Wayne Altman to set an 80 percent vaccination threshold for high school students and staff to lift the mask mandate at the high school level.

The committee had previously lifted the mask mandate for summer programs, on the superintendent's recommendation, but officials cited rising cases in the city in recent weeks.

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