East Greenwich School Committee Will Discuss Mask Mandate Feb. 15

EAST GREENWICH, RI — East Greenwich school officials will discuss whether to follow the state and lift the district's mask mandate at its next two meetings on Feb. 15 and March 1, School Committee Chair Anne Musella said Wednesday.

Gov. Dan McKee said Wednesday that the state requirement will end March 4., leaving mask policies up to districts.

"As the Governor’s statewide mask mandate for schools nears its expiration on March 4, Superintendent Meyer and I have had preliminary discussions around implementing a mask-optional policy," Musella said in a statement. "Those conversations will move to the full School Committee in the coming weeks. We will continue to provide virtual access to our public meetings to allow maximum public engagement."

Musella said the discussion will at least start in Superintendent Alex's update to the committee at its meeting Tuesday. Public discussion will be part of the process too, but the agendas haven't been finalized yet. Once agendas are finalized, they'll be available on the district website.

"While I cannot speak on behalf of the entire School Committee, I agree that we are now in a place to contemplate a mask-optional policy," Musella said.

Musella said her reasons for supporting optional mask-wearing include the decline of the omicron surge, that's there's no other serious various on the immediate horizon, the state and school district's high vaccination rates and declining hospitalization rates.

"We are entering our third year of COVID," Musella said. "The School Committee will continue to work lockstep with our superintendent in making decisions and implementing policy, as we have throughout the pandemic. We will continue to do our best for our students and staff, knowing that no decision we make will satisfy everyone."