Portsmouth Schools To Go Mask-Optional After March 4

PORTSMOUTH, RI — Masks will no longer be required, but still strongly encouraged, in Portsmouth schools after the statewide mask mandate expires next month. The school committee voted five to one to adopt the new policy at a special meeting Monday night.

Under the plan put forth by Superintendent Thomas Kenworthy, masking will be recommended, but not required in schools after Gov. Dan McKee's executive order expires March 4. All other COVID-19 mitigation measures will remain in place, and the superintendent will retain the ability to institute a mask requirement if he feels the case outbreaks or other factors deem it necessary.

Emily Copeland, the committee chair, said that was an "important safeguard" to ensure the district can respond to the changing pandemic situation.

"I feel like this is a little early. I wish the governor had kept on until at least mid- or the end of March," Copeland said. "While it is maybe a little premature, I don't think it makes sense to vote against it."

Four other members of the committee agreed with Copeland, saying that despite concerns that the move was slightly too soon, it would not be unsafe to move forward with lifting the mandate.

"Today is not a win for either side of an argument that should not have become political," Juan Carlos Payero said, adding that it is important that the district create a respectful, accepting environment for students on both sides of the issue.

Payero continued that it would be "unfairly and unjustly singling out kids" to require masking in schools after the end of the statewide public mask requirement, which ended last week.

Just one member of the committee voted against the new policy. Isabelle Kelly said that while she appreciates that people are tired of wearing masks, she doesn't think it's worth sacrificing the well-being of the students involved.

The vaccination rates are still too low to justify lifting the requirement March 4, Kelly argued, especially among elementary school children. In addition, Kelly said that one-way masking is considerably less effective than a universal requirement, offering less protection to those who are more vulnerable to becoming seriously ill from COVID-19.

According to the Rhode Island Department of Health, just over 70 percent of all Portsmouth residents have completed their first vaccine series, and 81 percent are at least partially vaccinated. While specific data is not available for schools, vaccine numbers are lower for those aged 24 and under: 60 percent partial and 52 percent fully.