NH Health, Education Departments Call For End To Masks In Schools

CONCORD, NH — New Hampshire health and education departments are recommending schools end face coverings and masking.

The New Hampshire Division of Public Health updated its recommendations for the use of masks and face coverings on Wednesday. The new guidance no longer recommends universal face masking use, in either indoor or outdoor settings, including specifically, in school settings.

Frank Edelblut, the commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Education, said the decision meant schools should transition away from mask requirements.

“I want to take this moment to thank all New Hampshire schools for working diligently and continuing to provide the best educational opportunities for Granite State youth,” he said. “I understand that it has been challenging. NHDOE will continue to work with schools and support them as they shift their policies to align with public health recommendations.”

The decision by public health prompted the New Hampshire Department of Education to issue a Technical Advisory on Wednesday.

Not unlike information released at the beginning of the pandemic, school districts have the authority to require students to wear face coverings, as part of their own health and safety policies, based on state education rules. However, the shift in public health policy now made masks inconsistent with the prior state education rules used to allow districts to enforce face coverings.

The advisory spelled out the issue: A mask requirement may now violate a district’s obligation to maintain policies that “Meet[] the instructional needs of each individual student,” Ed 306.04(a)(6), “[p]romot[e] a school environment that is conducive to learning,” Ed 306.04(11), and that “[m]eets the special physical health needs of students.” Ed 306.04(a)(22).

Therefore, consistent with prior public health recommendations, schools should transition to adopt these new public health recommendations as quickly as possible, the department said.

A number of schools in the state no longer require masks or face coverings or are considering changes in policies.

In SAU 8, the Concord School District, a subcommittee voted to recommend the school board move to an optional mask policy on March 14. If positive cases in any school exceed 3 percent of the school population, then the school exceeding the 3 percent threshold will return to a mask mandate for 10 days, under the proposal which was to be considered on March 7.

Editor's note: I was director of communications for the New Hampshire Department of Education between April 13, 2018, and April 16, 2019.

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