In less than a month, Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) requires that all of our children K-12 to be physically present in our school buildings for pre-COVID full school days, 5 days a week. There is no vaccine available for children under 12 years old. No Massachusetts state agency (including DESE) has instituted universal mandatory masking in our schools, and we are awaiting the Melrose School Committees and our local board of health to decide on whether or not universal mandatory masking will be a requirement in Melrose Public Schools.

The United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) have made it very clear that universal, mandatory indoor masking by all students, staff, teachers, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status, is critical to a safe learning environment (in addition to other mitigation factors such as 3 feet distancing and pooled testing programs.) The most recent guidance released by Massachusetts DESE does not meet the minimum standard recommended by both of these important public health institutions.

We the undersigned parents/guardians of children enrolled in Melrose Public Schools and concerned Melrose residents believe that Melrose Public Schools should adopt mandatory universal indoor masking by all students (age 2 and older), staff, teachers, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status (with necessary exemptions allowed on a case-by-case basis.)