March 3, 2022
Dear Shrewsbury Families & Colleagues,
Last evening, based upon favorable data regarding the much lower presence of COVID-19 in our community and on my recommendation, the Shrewsbury School Committee voted to rescind its mask mandate for all Shrewsbury Public Schools indoor spaces, effective immediately, except where mandated by another authority. This means that the sole remaining mask mandate in our schools is the Shrewsbury Board of Health's mask mandate for all Shrewsbury public and private schools, which applies to all individuals inside schools and on school buses and is still in effect. The Shrewsbury Board of Health is scheduled to review and act on its policy at its meeting this coming Friday morning.
I will communicate with you on Friday regarding the outcome of the Board of Health's determination. If the Board of Health lifts its mandate, masking will become optionalfor students, staff, and visitors in our schools on whatever date the Board of Health sets. When this occurs, it will be very important that everyone in our school community respects the decisions made by individuals and families regarding masking. When the change to optional masking occurs, no one should be made to feel uncomfortable regarding their choice to wear a mask or not.
Please note that if and when a change to optional masking occurs, some mask requirements will remain in certain situations per other authorities, including:
1) Masks will still need to be worn in school nurses' offices per CDC requirements for healthcare settings (masks will be available there).
2) Individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 who return to school after five days of isolation (if they are asymptomatic) must wear a mask on days six through ten of the protocol, per CDC and Massachusetts Department of Public Health guidelines.
3) Students and staff who participate in school activities in other school districts or locations for athletics, academic teams, etc. must follow any mask requirements in effect at that other location.
I will provide an update on Friday once the Board of Health has met.
Respectfully,
Joe Sawyer
Superintendent of Schools