At the February 16 Special Meeting of the Barnstable School Committee, the district’s face covering policy was reviewed and revised. In light of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Commissioner’s non-renewal of the mask mandate, as of February 28, the School Committee adopted a revised policy. In essence, effective February 28, masks for all Barnstable Public School (BPS) students and staff will be optional with the following exceptions:

  1. Per federal order, masks are required on school buses.
  2. Per Department of Public Health (DPH), masks are required in school health offices.
  3. Per DESE/DPH masks are required under certain circumstances when returning to school after a COVID illness.

Families and individuals may make a personal choice whether to wear a mask in Barnstable Public Schools. In this new context, our goal is to ensure an environment of respect and kindness that honors the choices made by families, students, and staff.