Weston School Committee approves mask-optional waiver application for high school

WESTON — November 8, 2021 — Weston School Committee unanimously authorizes state waiver application to make Weston High School mask-optional. Superintendent Dr. Midge Connelly told the board the high school is at 87 percent student vaccination — above 90 percent including staff — clearing DESE's 80 percent threshold to apply for exemption from the statewide K-12 mandate extended through Jan. 15. The local framework requires either 100 percent student vaccination or 80 percent vaccination plus 65 percent weekly pool-test participation, a town COVID rate of green, no in-school transmission and weekly district cases under 10. Current high school testing participation sits at 25 percent against more than 80 percent at the lower schools, making Dec. 6 the earliest plausible transition. Members also approved a new multifunction-school-activity-vehicle policy requiring committee sign-off on out-of-state use, accepted the FY22 enrollment report showing 1,948 students (73 above projection) and approved a $2,132,230.46 warrant and six WEEFC grants totaling $7,262. "This is mask optional," Chair Anita Rahman said, pushing the district to support those who choose to stay masked.