Masks will most likely be mandatory in the Old Rochester Regional School District for the beginning of the school year. 

Following a Department of Elementary and Secondary Education decision to allow Commissioner Jeffrey Riley to mandate masks for students, Superintendent Michael Nelson detailed the effect it would have on the district.

On Aug. 24, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education met and voted to give Riley the authority to implement a mask mandate for the beginning of the school year. The mask mandate is expected to be formally issued later this week.

With the issuance of the proposed mask mandate, all K-through-12 students, educators and staff would be required to wear a mask while in schools through Oct. 1.

After Oct. 1, the policy would allow middle and high schools to lift the mask mandate for vaccinated students and staff, if the school meets a certain vaccination rate – at least 80% of students and staff. Unvaccinated students and staff would still be required to wear masks. Additional information regarding masking policies would then be shared by individual districts.

Under the DPH’s mask advisory, masks are mandatory for all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, while using public transportation and rideshares, including school buses.

"We will continue to do everything we can to ensure students and staff are able to learn and work safely in our buildings, and this will include adhering to the expected mask mandate once it is issued," Nelson said. "As always, we are carefully monitoring state and local public health guidance and will continue to keep families informed regarding DESE guidance as well as any decisions made at the district level."