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Date: 2/22/2022
CHICOPEE – Following the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE) decision to lift the mask mandate on Feb. 28, the School Committee approved the removal of a mask mandate when students return from vacation on Feb. 28.
In prior meetings, the School Committee issued a mask mandate that would last until Mar. 7. The committee discussed the matter following several public speak out participants calling for an end to the mask mandate. In a survey conducted by the school district, Ward 1 Committee member Timothy Wagner shared that parents and teachers expressed support for a conclusion to the mandate.
“We do have some survey data here that shows that our teachers, educators, parents and students overwhelmingly support the removal of the mask policy,” said Wagner.
Ward 7 School Committee member Donald Lamothe highlighted a mask-optional approach as a potential avenue. He also advocated for ending the mandate on March 14 instead, which would allow the school district to monitor cases in the aftermath of school vacation.
“I am not opposed to removing them, but I think it should happen two weeks after our next school vacation…If the numbers continue where they are at, then mask optional from that point forward,” said Lamothe.
The committee represented diverse perspectives on the mandate. Ward 5 School Committee member Grace Schofield expressed she remains “torn on the issue,” but stressed the importance of giving people a choice about the decision. She shared that several teachers highlighted with her the difficulty of teaching with the mandate, as teachers cited an inability to view student’s facial expressions and often wear masks in warm conditions.
Ward 6 School Committee member Samuel Shumsky, Ward 8 School Committee member Douglas Girouard and School Committee At-Large member Susan Szetela Lopes showcased their support for ending the mandate on Feb. 28. In his explanation of his stance, Shumsky cited the 61.5 percent of parents in support of removing masks as a significant factor.
Ward 4 School Committee member Sandra Peret and Ward 3 Committee member Saulo DePaula expressed hesitancy about an immediate removal. DePaula expressed his support for Lamothe’s Mar. 14 end date, while Peret shared uneasiness with ending the mandate as COVID-19 circumstances continue to change. “The information consistently changes, it has not been definite,” said Peret.
After extensive discussion, the School Committee approved a mask-optional policy before taking three votes on what day to enact the policy. In contested 7-5 votes, the committee voted against extending the mandate to March 14 and March 7 respectively before approving an end to the mandate on Feb. 28 in a 12-1 vote.
The School Committee will meet again on March 2.