Change to AHS Mask Requirement
February 15, 2022
Good evening,
Tonight the School Committee followed Superintendent McAndrews’ recommendation and unanimously voted to go mask optional at Amesbury High School effective tomorrow, Wednesday, February 16th.
This decision came in light of (1) DESE approving a masking waiver submitted by the Superintendent based on our > 80% vaccination rate, (2) review of COVID data presented by the Superintendent in conjunction with our Board of Health, and (3) the new DESE recommendations.
Please note that the MIAA policies will be consistent with the new DESE recommendations and that masking for sports will continue to be required until February 28th. This includes players, coaches, officials, and spectators.
Please note that masks will continue to be required on school buses and vans, in our health office, and for students returning from a positive COVID case during days 6-10. The new DESE policy strongly recommends that unvaccinated individuals continue to wear masks.
Above all, it is important to remember that AHS is now mask optional. Barring the situations described above, masking will be an individual choice, and it is my expectation that those individual choices - to mask or not - are supported throughout our building by both staff and students.
As a reminder, students/families can still opt into our at-home testing program. You can read more about the program and complete a form to opt in here. We will also be continuing with symptomatic testing in our nursing office for both students and staff.
I believe that this change will be of great benefit to the social emotional health of our staff and students. I also trust that families will do their part to monitor the physical health of their children and continue to monitor symptoms. I am thankful to the Superintendent and School Committee for their unanimous support of this next step.
Best,
Dr. Ricci