Salem School Committee To Discuss, Vote On Mask Policy

SALEM, MA — The Salem School Committee will likely hold a special meeting for discussion and then later vote on whether indoor masking will still be required for students and staff after the statewide mask order expires on Feb. 28.

Superintendent Steve Zrike said on Thursday that it will be the School Committee that makes that final decision for the district. The School Committee voted to impose a mask requirement for the district in August prior to the state ordering mask use for students and staff in all school buildings on Aug. 28.

The next scheduled School Committee meeting is Feb. 28, but Zrike said during his Thursday Facebook Live session that an earlier meeting will likely be scheduled to take up the mask question after Gov. Charlie Baker said on Wednesday that the statewide order will not be extended past the end of the month.

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

"Like anything we've done here in Salem — anything the School Committee has done — it will be a thoughtful discussion," Zrike said. "There's been a conversation. It's always considered (in consultation) with the Board of Health and the balance between the educational needs of students and safety needs of young people."

Beverly and Peabody are among the North Shore districts that have already said they will lift the masking requirement in schools. Danvers, Swampscott and Marblehead — which last week received a state waiver to make three of its schools mask-optional — will also discuss the updated policy at their respective next School Committee meetings.

Zrike said a poll will be going out to students, staff and families seeking input.

"We're going to do this thoughtfully," Zrike said. "We have some time before the first opportunity to relax the mask requirement (on Feb. 28).

"We're going to look at vaccination rates, which are lower than other communities. We are also going to look at testing, which is higher than other communities. We have 70 percent of our students enrolled in weekly (at-home rapid and school pool) testing."

Zrike said his office and the School Committee are open to suggestions on the policy that is "thoughtful and measured around what's in the best interest of young people."

Zrike also confirmed that with the Board of Health lifting the citywide vaccination order for entry into museums, theaters and other entertainment venues this week, those attending Salem school indoor sporting events, concerts and other extracurricular events are no longer required to produce a proof for vaccination for entry.

(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.)