Masks Required To Start School Year In Manassas

MANASSAS, VA — Masks will be required for all students, staff, and visitors at Manassas City Public Schools to start the school year. Masks will be required regardless of vaccination status, the Manassas School Board announced this week.

The decision to require masks follows updated guidelines announced by the CDC as the 2021-2022 school year draws closer. Other school districts, such as Prince William County Schools, have already announced their mask mandate.

At a meeting of the school board on Tuesday, Aug. 3, board members expressed their reasoning for requiring masks when school starts next week.

"I am in fear of losing another school year," School Board member Tim Demeria said. "The numbers on this delta variant are on the rise. If they continue to rise, we're going to have to make a decision like we did last year, and that's the last thing I want to do."

Coronavirus cases are on the rise throughout the Prince William Health District, which includes Prince William County, the City of Manassas, and the City of Manassas Park. In the city of Manassas, cases have started to creep up after reaching lows in June and July.

"I do not want to keep children home again," School Board member Robyn William said. "That is my number one purpose for my vote. They need to be in the classroom."

As cases begin to rise again, vaccinations have stagnated. The Prince William Health District, which was vaccinating as many as 7,000 people per day in April, now vaccinates less than 1,000 people per day. Only 65 percent of eligible Manassas residents are fully vaccinated.

"Everything possible has got to be done to keep in-person education available to our students," Vice Chair Seaberg said. "To do that, we need to ensure safety for every student, every staff member to the best of our ability."

Seaberg noted concerns about unvaccinated students, family members who are immunocompromised, and family members who are unvaccinated for one reason or another.

"Folks with the vaccine can transmit the delta variant, which has changed how people look at this," Chairman Sanford Williams said. "I understand the frustration the public has. At the end of the day, the recommendations right now is that we have universal masking to keep our kids in school and keep them safe."

The school board said they will be able to revisit the mask mandate at future board meetings as circumstances change.

For the City of Manassas's public schools, the school year is scheduled to begin on Thursday, Aug. 12.