Hoosac Valley Require Masks, In Keeping with State Requirements
CHESHIRE, Mass. — Students and teachers at Hoosac Valley schools will have to wear masks while in the classroom until at least October 1.
The Hoosac Valley Regional School Committee voted on Tuesday to accept a mask requirement by the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education that was announced the day of the meeting.
Superintendent Aaron Dean acknowledged that there "certainly [has] been a lot of controversy over this policy, but given that the state is now recommending it, a lot of the data around it is recommending that we do this so that we can keep kids in school," rather than have to revert to the remote or hybrid learning scenarios of last year.
Some members of the committee objected to the mandate, especially as regard students and teachers who are vaccinated. Member Erin Milne, however, pointed out that vaccines are only available to adults and kids 12 years old and over, and that the government is unlikely to approve a vaccine for kids under 12 before the end of the year.
"From a policy standpoint, it's the responsible thing to do," said Dean.
One committee member resisted the mask requirement, saying she is unsure of the potential long-term consequences of keeping kids masked for so long. This is especially concerning for special needs students, she said, because they often require visual facial cues for learning.
She also said that while there is a risk to not having kids wear masks in school, it is much lower than it is for adults.
Milne objected to this, saying masks are relatively unobtrusive and that the data suggest masks are effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19.
She said that while masking is not ideal, "we don't have the option to choose 'ideal.' We have only options to look at the science and determine how we're going to most safely educate our students."
Chairman Mike Mucci pointed out that the state's policy recommended that students wear masks outdoors when social distancing wasn't possible. He said, however, that this would conflict with the schools' commitment to after-school sports.
Dean recommended that the committee adopt the policy with that line removed, which was how the resolution ultimately passed.
While Dean said he was open to the committee's reconsidering the mask mandate come November, but did not consider that likely based on the trajectory of COVID-19 cases due to the Delta variant.
"If the science changes and the vaccines take hold," he said, "we can always adjust as we go through the school year."
Tags: COVID-19, HVRSD, masks,
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