CHESHIRE, Mass. — To prevent the spread of COVID-19, student-athletes, coaches, officials and spectators in the Hoosac Valley Regional School District will be required to wear masks during the upcoming winter sports season. 

 

The School Committee discussed the mask-wearing policy at its Monday meeting. The policy will apply to basketball, cheer, hockey and wrestling, and student-athletes will be required to wear masks during games, practices and other indoor events. 

 

"So basically, anything indoors, mask up," said Superintendent Aaron Dean. 

 

Additionally, unvaccinated students will be subject to a COVID-19 testing policy if they come in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. Two-thirds of student-athletes in the district have received the COVID-19 vaccine, according to Dean. 

 

"If vaccinated, the person continues on with their attendance and participation in the events as long as they're not symptomatic," he said. "Unvaccinated students will test every morning, and if they are negative, they can resume participation in school sports." 

 

The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association decided on the mask policy, according to the board. School Committee Chairman Michael Mucci said the board does not have the authority to rescind the policy.    

 

"It has really funneled down through the MIAA," Mucci said. "I believe there is a meeting in early January, with some hope that they may relax standards and guidelines. But right now, everyone, all athletes, for every minute they're inside, need to wear a mask." 

 

Dean also shared new COVID-19 statistics for the district at the meeting. Between Nov. 17 and Dec. 1, the elementary school had 19 COVID-19 cases, the middle school had 10 cases and the high school had eight cases.

 

"Interestingly, if you look at the vaccination status, the vaccination trend actually naturally follows that," he said. 

 

Dean said 26 percent of the elementary school students have received a COVID-19 vaccination, compared to 39 percent and 60 percent for the middle and high school, respectively. He explained that the school does not know the vaccination status of every student, meaning these numbers could be higher. 

 

Dean said he does not anticipate shortening the number of games teams will play this season. 

 

"We don't have a limitation on the numbers at this point in time for the contests," he said. "And I don't know county why it seems like most people are going in that direction." 

 

Also at the meeting, the board unanimously approved the school improvement plans presented by the district principals at the  Nov. 2 meeting.