Salem School Committee Approves Vaccine Mandate For Sports, Band

SALEM, MA — The Salem School Committee unanimously passed a coronavirus mandate for the upcoming school year that requires all students 12 or older who want to participate in "high-respiration" extracurricular activities — such as sports, band or drama — to either be vaccinated or wear masks while performing those activities indoors and outdoors, as well as provide documentation they have consulted a health professional about the vaccine.

The School Committee approved the student vaccine-or-mask mandate as part of the second round of protocols that also includes mandating that all faculty or staff be vaccinated or subject to twice-weekly testing as well as reinstating last year's weekly testing program for all sports participation regardless of vaccination status.

"For the most part this policy is geared toward making sure we're not excluding anyone," said Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll, who is also president of the School Committee, "but trying to put in place those protections and trying to find that space where we're enabling those who are making a choice not to get vaccinated to still be able to participate but doing so in as safe a manner as possible."

There was virtually no debate on the merits of the teacher or student extracurricular activity vaccine mandate, with much more of the discussion time dedicated toward the nature of mask breaks and school testing programs.

"We want to provide an incentive for people to get vaccinated," Superintendent of Schools Steve Zrike said. "Our (vaccination) rates are low (for student-age residents) in Salem. That's concerning. We are still hovering at 50 percent — less than 50 percent with some of our youngest students. At those rates, we have to be concerned about any activities, whether it's indoor or outdoors, that are bringing together bodies in high-respiration situations."

The new requirements are in addition to those adopted at last week's meeting that included an indoor mask mandate for all students and staff regardless of vaccination status to start the year.

Under the new proposals released on Friday and adopted Monday night, Salem Public Schools nurses will collect proof of vaccination during staff professional development week starting Aug. 24. The district will offer free, on-site testing for unvaccinated staff twice a week and for all students participating in athletics, band, chorus and drama.

Students wishing to participate in those "high-respiration" extracurricular activities will also have to provide proof of vaccination to the nurse's office prior to the start of the school year or a required form signed by a health care provider documenting a consultation on the vaccine for those who remain unvaccinated.

Salem Public Schools will offer access to a health care provider for students who need assistance in a vaccination consultation.

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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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