ConVal is developing a plan for its upcoming switch to optional masking, and Jaffrey-Rindge moved to optional masking effective as of Tuesday.
Last week, the ConVal School Board voted to direct the district administration to formulate a plan to move away from mandatory masking on March 7. According to Superintendent Kimberly Rizzo Saunders, the administration has been working with the COVID-monitoring team to create a recommendation to give to the School Board for its next meeting on March 1.
“So far, it’s pretty straightforward,” Rizzo Saunders said. “Masking will be optional, and what that means as far as positive cases is what we’re working on.”
In ConVal, protocols for what will happen if cases surge again and other details are still to be determined, according to Rizzo Saunders. If a determination is made that masking should become mandatory again, that will only be able to happen with direction from the School Board.
While the proposed protocols are formulated, Rizzo Saunders said that she is taking suggestions from district staff and parents.
“If they had recommendations or suggestions they wanted to make, they could send me that information,” she said. “I will take all of that into consideration, in conjunction with the COVID-monitoring team.”
After meeting with the COVID-monitoring team this week and taking outside input into account, Rizzo Saunders said she will have a plan for the School Board to discuss and vote on next week.
Those wishing to give feed back or input on the process can reach out to Rizzo Saunders at ksaunders@conval.edu.
The Jaffrey-Rindge School Board voted Monday night to move the district into the “green level” of its mitigation strategies matrix based on a review of COVID data.
“This means that masking will be optional and social distancing will not be required, regardless of school district or community transmission rates,” stated Superintendent Reuben Duncan.
This change applies to all district properties and locations, although masks are still required on public transportation, including school buses.
Duncan added that the board would continue to monitor COVID-19 data in case of a necessary change in the future, and stated that the board decided to cut back on district communication with community members as it relates to positive cases, meaning that they will no longer put information about case numbers on social media or out in daily emails.
The information will still be available on the district website, sau47.org.