Based on Department of Health and Human Services and New Hampshire Department of Education Guidance. Masks are no longer required in Moultonborough School Facilities. Masks remain recommended and any staff or student may choose to wear a mask at any time. Masks will remain available free of charge. There may be times where the targeted temporary use of masks may be required. For example: If there is evidence of transmission such as a cluster of cases in a specific classroom or cohort we may decide to temporarily use masks in that classroom. The decision to implement temporary use of masks will be made on a case-by-case basis by a team including a school nurse, an administrator and a representative of the Moultonborough School Staff Association. They may also seek advice from the NH DHHS.
There may also be the need to use a mask when interacting closely with some specific staff or students due to their medical needs.
The School District will make appropriate accommodations to health and safety protocols for students with disabilities. As needed, such accommodations will be developed through the established Special Education and 504 processes.
Employees should meet with the SAU Human Resource Director if requesting accommodations to health and safety protocols.
There may be other specific situations where mask use is indicated temporarily, such as if it is a requirement of a field trip destination or host school, but generally they will not be required in Moultonborough schools on a regular basis as of today February 24, 2022.
Masks remain recommended and individuals may choose to wear a mask at any point masks are not required. We encourage families to continue to take steps to mitigate the spread of the virus. We will continue to social distance when appropriate and we will maximize the use of outdoor spaces as the weather improves.
The recent rapid decline in COVID-19 cases in our school community and changes in the recommendations of the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services have led to some changes in how we report and respond to cases of COVID-19. We will no longer be reporting cases on a daily basis. The NH DHHS will no longer be collecting data on cases on a daily basis. In the future we will be reporting the number of cases to DHHS and the school community on a weekly basis.
There will remain two exceptions where masks will still be required:
1) Masks must still be worn on all buses. There remains a federal order for masks on public transportation. School buses are covered by that order and as such, masks will be required on buses until that order ends. Currently that order is set to expire on March 18, 2022. The order could be extended or revised. We will update you if we find new guidance on this matter.
2) Masks must be worn by staff or students returning to school on day six after isolating due to testing positive for COVID. If they do not want to wear a mask they will need to isolate for the full 10 days and not attend school.
