Woburn School Committee Lifts Mask Mandate For Summer Programs

WOBURN, MA — Woburn's School Committee voted to lift the district's mask mandate for summer programs on July 12.

The committee voted 4-3 in favor of the superintendent's recommendation to drop the mandate.

Superintendent Matthew Crowley said the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has said masking indoors is no longer required but remains encouraged. He recommended the committee rescind its previous policy in favor of that guidance.

Committee members Colleen Cormier, Andrew Lipsett and John Wells voted against the change.

"We don't know if someone without a mask is vaccinated or not," Cormier said. "I think leaving the policy like it is right now is the best way to go."

"I agree, especially as it pertains to the students under the age of 12," Lipsett said. "Now is not the time to take the eye off the ball."

But other members argued it was time to leave it up to families.

"Everybody who wants to be vaccinated has had the opportunity," Patricia Chisholm said. "I think we should leave it up to the parents."

The change only applies to summer programming, with no decision being made on the fall.

The full meeting is available here from Woburn Public Media Center.

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

An earlier version of this story misnamed a member of the committee. It has been corrected.