What Unmasking Might Look Like In Barrington Schools

BARRINGTON, RI — Barrington school officials are awaiting more coronavirus data before committing to a policy that lifts the school mask mandate at the local level.

Gov. Dan McKee's executive order mandating masks in schools expires March 4, and some changes to mask policy will change in Barrington before that deadline. But when masks will be fully optional in the district is still unclear.

At Thursday's school committee meeting, Superintendent Michael Messore and Assistant Superintendent Paula Dillon said they still need to meet with officials from the Rhode Island Department of Health to create metrics for when masking can become optional in each school.

"We were hopeful to get more information out today," Dillon said. "We apologize for that, but it's better to get the right information."

What masking policies change now

On Monday, the school's re-entry team met and looked for ways to reduce COVID-19 mitigations. School officials some changes can be made before March 4.

Masks will be optional for any outdoor activity. This includes recess, lunch, physical education and outdoor breaks.

Contract tracing will also no longer be performed for recess, breaks, physical education and outdoor lunches.

What masking will look like after March 4

School officials said they will develop mask policies and share a school-by-school decision chart based on various metrics, including school infection rates and more to be determined. Messore said he'll share the specific metrics after consulting with the Department of Health.

"Our goal is always following the data and the science and making the decision that put our staff and students as our number one priority," Messore said.

School officials said schools who fall into low infection zones, as noted in the metrics-based decision-charts, will be able to allow for masking to be recommended but optional. Each week, the schools will publish the rate of vaccination, rate of infection, and announce masking protocols on Fridays, beginning on March 4, for the following week.

"The purpose of the weekly review is to be prepared in the event of an outbreak, spike, or introduction of a new variant," Messore said in a letter to the school community. "Based on projections, the team feels relatively confident that masks recommended, but optional, will be the standard protocol for the foreseeable future once the community and school rates are lower."

Masking will still be required in the following situations:

• On school buses, per federal mandate
• People who test positive and return to school until 10 days from the date of exposure
• Close Contact not in the home and infection rates are above the blue section on the metrics to be shared. Not boosted (if eligible) or not vaccinated: Quarantine for 5 days and test to re-enter. Mask for 10 days from date of exposure. Boosted or vaccinated and not eligible for booster: No quarantine, test 5 days after exposure. Mask for 10 days from the date of exposure.
• Close contact not in the home and infection rates are in the blue section of the metrics to be provided. No quarantine or test after exposure. Mask for 10 days from the date of exposure.
• Close Contact in the Home. Not boosted (if eligible) or not vaccinated: Quarantine for 5 days and test to re-enter. Mask for 10 days from the date of exposure. Boosted or vaccinated and not eligible for booster: No quarantine, test 5 days after exposure. Mask for 10 days from the date of exposure.