Things ‘Going Smoothly’ Following Lifting Of Mask Mandate, Falmouth Super Says
Following the district’s lifting of the mask mandate, Falmouth Public Schools Superintendent Lori S. Duerr said that things have been running smoothly and without issue since the school committee’s decision to make masks optional went into effect on Monday, February 28.
“It has been extremely quiet,” Dr. Duerr said. “There’s not been any issues from students, teachers or families. Everyone just seems to be taking it in stride, like there’s no discussions either way.”
While some students have chosen to stay masked or wear a mask periodically throughout the day, Dr. Duerr said that the majority of both students and staff are unmasked.
“I go in and out of the schools [and] it’s so nice to see people’s faces,” she said. “It definitely carries more positive energy. It seems to be going completely smoothly.”
The school committee voted on February 15 to lift the mandate and make masking optional effective February 28, the day that students returned from February break. The CDC later announced that it is no longer requiring masks to be worn on school buses, a policy that FPS adopted and was communicated to staff and families on Sunday, February 27. Dr. Duerr said that there has been very little response to the lifting of the mandate on school buses.
“I have not heard one thing,” she said. “I did watch some buses come in, and there were some kids with masks but the majority did not [have masks], just like when you walk through the schools… It just feels back to the pre-COVID normal. There are just so many smiles. It’s just a good feeling, so I’m glad that it’s going so smoothly.”