Beginning on March 7th, face coverings and masks will no longer be required in the Needham Public Schools for students and staff.
The Commissioner’s update on masking, improving local health metrics, high staff & student vaccination rates, availability of testing options, and the district’s commitment to maintain healthy schools have resulted in the Joint Committee on Health & Safety recommending to the superintendent that the mask mandate end & that a mask friendly K-12 learning environment become effective Monday, March 7th.
As of March 7th, Individual K-12 students and staff can choose whether to wear a mask or not; unvaccinated individuals are strongly encouraged to wear a mask. All will wear masks in health offices and on school transportation. (Preschool staff and students will remain masked for the time being.)
The district will reinforce personal choice around masking. Mask friendly respects the individual choices of students and staff; acknowledges that some individuals have personal or family health concerns/needs that must be supported.
Principals, teachers, and staff will use the week after break to share developmentally appropriate messages and lessons to help students understand what it means to learn and play in a mask friendly school and classroom.
To learn more about how the principals and staff are preparing for a mask friendly learning environment, watch this ten minute video featuring Principals Bourn and Garlick: Ten Minutes with Eliot Principal Karen Bourn and Broadmeadow Principal Andy Garlick. To view additional information, including recent health metrics and data, view this February 15, 2022 School Committee meeting presentation.
I'm excited that we are creating the conditions to support a mask friendly learning environment, and we will continue to monitor health and safety conditions in order to prioritize the health and safety of our students, staff, and their families.
