Grafton schools remain behind the mask as some local districts apply to lift mandate

While some local communities have applied to lift the mask mandate at certain schools, Grafton will not be among them.

Superintendent of Schools James Cummings told the School Committee Tuesday that neither Grafton High School nor Grafton Middle School have reached the 80 percent COVID-19 vaccination threshold required by the state’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

At Grafton High, 74.3 percent of staff and 76 percent of student have been vaccinated, a total of 75.7 percent for the building. The middle school has 83.8 percent of staff and 72.2 percent of students vaccinated, a total of 73.6 percent of staff.

“Obviously our students outweigh the number of staff,” Cummings said. 

Hopkinton is the only area district that Cummings knows of is moving forward, with masks coming off on November 1 but back on before Thanksgiving. That district, however, has a vaccination rate of over 90 percent, Cummings said.

Six other schools have been approved but have not indicated when they might move forward, including Westborough High School, Sarah Gibbons Middle School in Westborough, and Algonquin Regional High School.

State Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley also announced Tuesday that DESE has extended the universal mask mandate for most public schools through January 15, 2022.

“Masks remain a simple and effective measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and keep students in school safely,” Riley said in a press statement. “Together with the Test and Stay program, high vaccination rates, low transmission rates in schools and all the hard work in keeping our students safe, our kids are able to stay in school where they belong and can flourish.”

The mandate, previously set to expire in November, requires all Massachusetts students and staff members 5 years and older to wear masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status, except when eating, drinking, or during mask breaks. Masks are not required outdoors, and masks are recommended but not required for children under 5.

Regardless of age or vaccination status, everyone is required to mask while riding a school bus under federal mandate.

Vaccines were recently approved for use for ages 5-11. Education Secretary James Peyser said in press statement that “extension of the mask requirement will allow time for the elementary school population to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.”

But the decision, for now, still remains local.

“Let’s make it clear — when it reaches 80 percent that does not mean it immediately means masks come off,” School Committee member Laura Often said. “It comes back to this committee.”

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