Editor's Note: Two members of the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education made extensive arguments against forcing students to wear masks in public schools in the state during a board meeting on Tuesday, August 24, 2021. Both are appointees of Governor Charlie Baker, who supports the masks mandate. The two board members are Martin West and Paymon Rouhanifard.
The masks mandate passed, 9-1. West voted for the policy, though he spent most of his time raising objections to it.
A state board has authorized the state's education commissioner to require masks for all public school staff and students ages 5 and up in Massachusetts through at least October 1.
The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted 9-1 Tuesday morning in favor of the policy, proposed by state education commissioner Jeff Riley, with the backing of Governor Charlie Baker.
