School Committee, Interim Superintendent, to discuss masks in Fall River schools

Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley announced Wednesday the statewide mask requirement for K-12 schools will be lifted on February 28. That doesn’t mean, however, that masks in schools will go away in Fall River or any other Massachusetts community.

According to the DESE, the decision was made in consultation with infectious disease physicians, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and other medical experts.

With the lifting of the statewide mask requirement, masking will be a community choice in schools across the Commonwealth, regardless of vaccination rates within a school which previously had to be 80 percent.

Masks in Fall River schools will be discussed next week.

At the February 14th School Committee meeting, in Maria Pontes’ Superintendent Report there will be a COVID-19 update where she will address masks in schools. A discussion item has also been added to the meeting agenda so the Committee can weigh in on the matter.

While it is not yet clear which direction Fall River schools will be going in response to mask wearing, DESE says that their data about the prevalence of COVID-19 in schools, in addition to their testing program, illustrates that schools are safe environments for teaching and learning regardless of mask wearing.

Masks also will continue to be required on all school buses, per federal order.

The Diocese of Fall River Catholic schools announced Thursday they will no longer require masks in schools with the exception of individuals who have tested positive and are returning to school for days 6-10 of their Covid recovery. Individuals still have the option of wearing them.

Monday’s meeting is scheduled to take place at 5:30 p.m. at the Kuss Middle School Auditorium.