BPS parents group pushes for mask use
A group of Boston Public School parents is calling for the school district to bring back a mask mandate as Chelsea Public Schools and UMass Boston reinstated masking requirements starting Monday.
The push for stricter COVID safety protocols from BPS Families for COVID Safety (FamCOSa) comes after the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention on Friday designated Suffolk County’s community risk level for COVID-19 as “high.” The CDC recommends individuals to wear masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status.
BPS Families for COVID Safety (FamCOSa) released a statement Monday in response to Chelsea and UMass Boston’s Friday announcements, asking for Boston Public School administrators to also bring back a mask mandate for the safety of students.
“In contrast, Boston Public Schools is still “asking” and “expecting” students and staff to mask up, but their policy does not require this measure to protect the BPS community from COVID transmission in the schools,” wrote the group, which says it works to share resources and advocate for improvement to COVID safety measures with BPS.
Masks are optional for Boston Public Schools.
Anecdotal reports from parents, students, and staff found that many students and staff are not wearing masks despite the surge in COVID cases, according to FamCOSa’s statement.
“We simply do not understand why UMass Boston and Chelsea Public Schools care more about their students, staff, and families than Boston Public Schools cares about theirs,” Suleika Soto, BPS parent and cofounder of FamCOSa, said in the statement.
BPS did not immediately provide answers to a Globe request for comment on its masking policies. Boston Public Health Commissioner Dr. Bisola Ojikutu was also not available to comment.
Both Chelsea Public Schools and UMass Boston cited rising COVID positivity and hospitalization rates, as well as the rise of a new subvariant called XBB, in announcing the reinstated mask mandates.
Both administrations will require students and staff to wear masks in indoor settings at all times.
“We will continue to regularly monitor data and follow CDC recommendations in the event the risk level changes. The safety of our community is our highest priority,” Dr. Almi G. Abyerta, superintendent of Chelsea Public Schools, wrote in an announcement to the school district.