Woburn School Mask Mandate Still In Place, Despite State Change

WOBURN, MA — The Woburn Public Schools mask mandate will remain in effect until rescinded or modified by the School Committee, regardless of the state mandate ending, according to the district's policy manual.

Gov. Charlie Baker said Wednesday that the state mandate will end Feb. 28, leaving districts to decide for themselves.

Woburn School Committee members voted in August to put in place a mask mandate to begin the year. The committee intended to revisit the policy by the end of October, but the state mandate was put in place, pre-empting them, before that point.

"This policy will remain in place until amended or rescinded by the School Committee," according to the policy manual.

The committee did discuss the mandate at their Oct. 25 meeting, but they noted they had no ability to lift it at that time unless a school reached 80 percent vaccination, which none of the district's schools had.

As of Thursday, 57 percent of Woburn residents 5 to 19 were fully vaccinated, according to state data. Twelve percent had received a booster dose.

The next Woburn School Committee meeting is scheduled for Feb. 17.

In response to a Facebook question, Woburn Patch readers were overwhelmingly against keeping the mask mandate in Woburn. When the mandate was put in place in August, the committee heard extensive public comments passionately for and against the policy.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or [email protected].