Cummings: Masks will be mandatory for all in Grafton schools

Grafton schools will require indoor masking for all students and staff when school starts on August 31.

Superintendent of Schools Jay Cummings said in an email Thursday morning that the rise of the COVID-19 Delta variant means the Grafton school system will continue with the mask mandate to protect students and staff during the school day. The requirement will be reassessed throughout the school year.

In a few short weeks, we will be starting the 2020-2021 school year. I was hopeful that we would return to in-person learning without pandemic restrictions. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic continues, requiring us to take measures to keep our students and staff as safe as possible with the Delta variant surging here in the Commonwealth.

The Grafton Public Schools will require indoor masking for all students and staff PreK-12.  All students, staff, and visitors – regardless of vaccination status – must wear masks while in any of the Grafton Public Schools facilities.  

The Grafton School Committee will be working with public health officials and administrators to regularly assess the health situation with the hope of transitioning to optional masks in the near future.  On the following pages, you will find an FAQ with some of the questions that we have answers to.  As we receive guidance from DESE and DPH, we will share that information with the GPS community.  We will be updating the COVID-19 resource page on the GPS website and answering questions on the GPS Coronavirus and Budget Facebook page.  In addition to those resources, you are welcome to email me at cummingsj@grafton.k12.ma.us.

Sincerely,

-Jay

Masking has been a contentious topic. Two petitions are circulating in Grafton, one from parents who want masks to be required for all students during the school day, the other from residents who want masks to be optional.

Cummings also released a Frequently Asked Questions about the health protocols.

Back-to-School FAQs

1. What are the health and safety protocols being recommended by decision-makers in light of the Delta variant of the virus?

Here is a timeline and summary of the most recent recommendations made by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health ( MA DPH):

• 7/19/2021 — American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that everyone older than age two wear masks, regardless of vaccination status.  The AAP guidance can be accessed here.
• 7/27/202 — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offered guidance recommending universal indoor mask wearing for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to schools, regardless of vaccination status.
• 7/30/2021— The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) updated guidance for PK-12 schools.

2. I am vaccinated.  Will I need to wear a mask at the start of the 2021-2022 school year?

Yes, all students, staff, and visitors will be required to wear masks when they return to school in the fall.

3. In-person learning does not feel safe to me.  Is there a remote option?

There is no remote option this year per the Commissioner of Education.  

4. Why is Grafton Public Schools not following the masking guidance that was recently issued by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education?

Our primary goals are to preserve the health and safety of our students and staff and to maximize the provision of as much uninterrupted in-person learning as possible.  If we do not have mask-wearing or distancing requirements, we will be identifying an unmanageable number of close contacts with any positive cases that we do encounter.  The management of who should be wearing masks at the secondary level is also not realistic with over 1,200 students changing classes throughout each day.  Mandating the use of masks for the start of the school year is in accordance with CDC and AAP guidance.

5. Are masks required on school buses?

Yes, passengers and drivers must wear masks on our buses.  This requirement is from the federal government and cannot be changed at the local level.

6. What are the current travel restrictions?

Massachusetts COVID-19 travel Guidance suggests that if you are vaccinated there are no restrictions on domestic travel.  The CDC recommendations for unvaccinated people can be accessed here.

7. Will the School Committee be voting on the use of masks to start the school year?

No, the School Committee will not be voting on the use of masks as the existing policy from last year remains in place.  In the future, when the mask mandate is lifted, the School Committee will need to vote to amend the existing policy.  The current masking policy can be accessed here.

8. What metrics will be used for the mask mandate to be lifted?

There is no single metric that will result in the mask mandate being lifted.  We will be in regular consultation with the Department of Public Health and the Board of Health and will continue to follow the guidance of these public health officials as changes are considered.

9. If a student is sick and experiencing COVID-19 symptoms (ie. fever, cough, runny nose) what should they do?

Like last year, if a student has any symptoms of COVID-19, they should stay home from school.  The family should notify the school nurse that the student will be absent and the reason for the absence.  The school nurse will follow up with the family regarding the absence and well-being of the student.

10. What information is the district still waiting on?

There are a number of topics that are still unclear.  The expectation is that guidance on these topics will be shared in the next two weeks.  Topics include close contact definitions and quarantining procedures/expectations, cleaning requirements, music, and athletic protocols.

11: What happens if my child is quarantined? Will they be able to make up work (access school from home?) 

DESE is going to be putting out new guidelines around quarantining. We will definitely be allowing for work to be made up if students are out of school.  The new quarantine guidelines will inform the possibility of any other steps that can be taken when students miss school.

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