Masks In Salem Schools For All To Start Year: Superintendent

SALEM, MA — Masks will be recommended for all Salem Public Schools students and staff — regardless of vaccination status — when they are inside school buildings as part of a proposal Superintendent Steve Zrike will deliver to the School Committee on Monday.

Zrike told Patch on Wednesday that he was in the final stages of developing a back-to-school plan aimed at minimizing disruption during the school year amid a recent rise in the coronavirus delta variant.

As part of those plans released on Thursday, Zrike recommends mask-wearing for all while indoors, social distancing of at least 3 feet during mask breaks and while eating indoors, having lunches outdoors whenever possible and a continuation of the district's extensive virus testing procedures.

"Due to the level of contagiousness of this variant and the increased possibility for those who are vaccinated to have and spread the virus due to the variant, it is critical to reduce the introduction of small droplets and particles by ensuring all individuals wear masks when inside and on our buses," he said.

Zrike said these guidelines will be for the start of the school year and could be altered if virus circumstances change. The masked-up proposal would include all visitors to the school buildings as well regardless of their vaccination status.

The proposal goes further with mitigation efforts than the state Department of Elementary Education and Department of Health-issued guidance last week that differed from that of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which recommended universal mask-wearing for everyone in K-12 public schools to start the fall regardless of vaccination status, as does the Salem proposal.

The state guidance left those decisions up to the districts — stating that it "strongly recommends" those 12 and under should wear masks indoors because they are not yet eligible for the vaccine, and those in grades seven through 12 — as well as faculty and staff — have the option whether to wear masks or not if they are vaccinated.

"The goal of this recommendation is to ensure the safe opening of schools in September and to minimize disruption to learning for our students and their families," Zrike said on Thursday. "We remain confident and committed to fully opening school this fall with in-person learning for all students."

Other mitigation efforts include instructing families to keep students home if they are symptomatic with any cold or virus symptoms and encouraging good hygiene and sanitizing whenever possible.

Salem will continue its surveillance testing program in an attempt to identify asymptomatic or presymptomatic cases of the coronavirus in the schools and prevent the spread of the virus. Zrike also said the district will begin a new "Test to Stay" program that will allow close contacts of someone found positive for the coronavirus to receive a rapid test that day in school.

"This is an important step to reduce the disruption if there are positive cases this fall," Zrike said.

He added that details of the "Test to Stay" program will be shared with the school community as the start of the school year gets closer.

Another review of the ventilation system for each school will also be conducted prior to opening.

Zrike will ask the School Committee to adopt these recommendations at its special meeting set for Monday at 4 p.m. Families can view and participate in that remote meeting.

There will also be a public forum for families, staff and community members with district staff and medical advisers on Aug. 24 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. to share details and answer questions.

"Last year, when we launched our reopening work, we put forward four core values: wellness, equity, flexibility and community," Zrike said. "We have watched as our community has come together to put our students first, lived by these values and demonstrated our ability to adapt as we learn more about the virus.

"We appreciate your continued support as we enter a new school year where we are fiercely committed to minimizing disruption for our children and ensuring a healthy, positive and thriving year for all."

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(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.)

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