Barnstable School Committee To Discuss Mask Mandate Feb. 16

BARNSTABLE, MA — Potential revisions to Barnstable Public Schools' mask mandate will be discussed at the next school committee meeting on Wednesday, according to the agenda.

Gov. Charlie Baker in a news conference Wednesday said the state requirement will end Feb. 28, leaving mask policies up to local school districts.

Mask mandates were brought up by parents during the public comment section of the Feb 2 meeting. Some parents said masks in school make it hard for young children to learn and recognize people's facial expression.

"Parents, we hear you," Superintendent Meg Mayo-Brown said at the meeting before saying some parents feel the opposite.

Mayo-Brown said the school district has also had among the most COVID-19 cases in recent weeks. She also said the district will have a plan once the state lifts the mask mandate.

After the mandate ended, Patch reached out to Mayo-Brown and school committee members and will update this story when we know more.

Previously, schools that reached an 80 percent vaccination rate were allowed to apply for a state waiver to the mask mandate. As of Thursday, 64 percent of Barnstable residents 5 to 19 were fully vaccinated, according to state data. Twelve percent were boosted.