hopkinton-independent-logo2x
Hopkinton, MA
loader-image
Hopkinton, US
3:56 am, Saturday, March 14, 2026
35°F
85 %
Wind Gust: 7 mph
Clouds: 99%
Sunrise: 6:59 am
Sunset: 6:50 pm

SIGN UP TODAY!
BREAKING NEWS & DAILY NEWSLETTER





Mass. education commissioner announces statewide mask requirement for K-12 students, staff

by | Aug 24, 2021 | Education, Featured: Education

The state’s Board of Elementary and Secondary Education — after previously indicating each district would make its own determination — on Tuesday announced a statewide mask requirement for all public K-12 students and staff through at least Oct. 1.

Education commissioner Jeffrey Riley said he will reassess the mandate on Oct. 1, looking at not just vaccination statistics but infection and hospitalization totals. He added that more details and guidance will be shared with districts this week.

Hopkinton’s School Committee already voted last week to open the school year with the requirement that students and staff wear face coverings.

The mandate comes amid a surge in COVID-19 cases due in large part to the delta variant.

State officials indicated that they hope the mask mandate spurs an increase in vaccinations. As an incentive, on Oct. 1, middle schools and high schools in which 80 percent of students and staff are vaccinated can lift the mask requirement for those who are vaccinated. However, Riley indicated that this plan might need to be altered.

“We also cannot completely rule out the possibility that masks may be required intermittently throughout the year, based on the trajectory of the virus and any new emerging variants,” he said.

Recent statistics indicate more than 95 percent of Hopkinton residents aged 12-19 have been at least partially vaccinated, although the percentage likely is a little lower due to the chart using old census population totals. No data has been shared on teacher/staff vaccinations.

0 Comments

Related Articles

Schools Notebook: Local collegians recognized

Tufts University’s dean’s list for the fall semester includes five Hopkinton residents: junior Anjali Batra, sophomores Bableen Gill, Lulu Jerrett and Nicole Mousad, and freshman Kayleen Tang. … Earning spots on the dean’s list at Holy Cross were seniors Isabella...

Boston College

HHS group spreads awareness about endometriosis

One in 10 women suffer from endometriosis, and it typically takes 7-10 years to diagnose. Those statistics were enough to prompt a group of Hopkinton High School students to launch a community awareness campaign about the topic. The project is featured as part of...

HOSA students

Change orders widen scope of Hopkins School project

The School Committee on Thursday approved several items that widen the scope of the Hopkins School project. The addition portion of the project was completed and turned over in December, two months early, giving Vertex (owner’s project manager) time to look at...

Hopkins School gym

Schedule in place to interview school administrator candidates

During Thursday’s School Committee meeting, Superintendent Evan Bishop outlined the restructuring of his administrative team in the wake of an impending retirement and departure. Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations Susan Rothermich is retiring,...

Hopkinton Public Schools sign
Key Storage 4.14.22