Peabody Schools To Go Mask-Optional In 2 Weeks

PEABODY, MA — For the first time in nearly two years of the COVID crisis, Peabody Public Schools will go mask-optional on Feb. 28 when the statewide mask mandate for inside school buildings expires.

The Peabody School Committee voted Tuesday night to do away with the mask requirement on that date should the state not extend its mask order put in place on Aug. 28. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education had previously extended the order three times, but Gov.. Charlie Baker and DESE Commissioner Jeffrey Riley said on Wednesday morning that school masking will become a "community choice" at the end of the month.

"We have done a very good job of following the DESE mandates and they have served us well," Peabody Superintendent Josh Vadala said at Tuesday's meeting. "We've maintained a safe environment in school. I would support on Feb. 28, if this mandate isn't extended, I would support going mask-optional in all of our schools when we come back from February vacation."

(Also on Patch: MA's School State Mask Mandate Will Expire Feb. 28)

The Peabody School Committee voted 6-1 to accept Vadala's recommendation.

Under the current state mandate, only schools with more than 80 percent vaccination among students and staff are eligible to apply for a waiver to go mask-optional. Vadala told the School Committee that while staff numbers exceed the 80 percent threshold for a waiver request, the student vaccination rate does not at any of the city's public schools.

Peabody School Committee members expressed frustration in August and September when an apparent consensus to go mask-optional in public schools to start the academic year was overruled by the state mandate.

"The decision made today by the Department of Elementary and Second Education — DESE — took away our local authority, took away our ability to vote on this. ... I think we know our city as well, if not better, than anybody," Peabody Mayor and School Committee Chair Ted Bettencourt said at the time.

Masks will still be required on school transportation as part of a federal mandate. The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association is expected to make a statement on masking during indoor sports as of Feb. 28 this week.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)