Alameda School Board Votes For Masks Outside, Increased Testing

ALAMEDA, CA —During a virtual meeting Thursday night, the Alameda Unified School District Board of Education voted unanimously to revise the district's policies to include outdoor masking and additional testing for COVID-19 each month within the district.

In the first action item, the board voted to follow CDC masking guidance for communities that have high levels of COVID-19 transmission. This means masks must be worn by students and staff in crowded outdoor settings when physical distancing can't be maintained and when there is close contact with others who are not fully vaccinated.

"We have a crowded outdoor event every day at our elementary schools, it's called recess. In all cases, there we have unvaccinated students," said Pasquale Scuderi, the superintendent.

The district's masking policy goes beyond the current guidelines by the California Department of Public Health, which only require everyone indoors at school to wear a mask.

Scuderi pointed out that Alameda students obviously be allowed to remove their masks outside while eating and drinking. Plus, students with a verified condition that prevents masking also will be exempt, though alternatives, like face shields, will be provided.

The superintendent said teachers will give students breaks from mask wearing at times during the day.

"Our staff will have some discretion and they will allow for masking breaks outdoors, if students are able to remain safely distanced," Scuderi said.

Scuderi said the policy would be in effect until Winter Break, and then would be re-evaluated.

"We've heard that the California Department of Public Health will provide revised guidance, or will extend the policy on or before Nov. 1, so we'll be revisiting this topic with our board," Scuderi said.

For the second action item, the board voted to increase mandatory COVID-19 testing for unvaccinated students in the district-which means all elementary students -to up to twice per month. Currently, the district only has the capacity to test students once per month.

Scuderi said elementary school students currently are being tested using PCR testing, which he described as the gold standard. The superintendent said the district hopes to increase its capacity by adding rapid antigen tests, but those products currently are in short supply throughout the state.

Scuderi said that during the first two weeks of school, the district has been administering tests at three elementary schools per week.

"I also wanted to point out that during our data confirmation process during registration, the vast majority of families have consented to doing regular testing," Scuderi said. "So, when we're showing up at schools, the overwhelming majority are being tested."