Lincoln School Committee makes masks optional pre-K through 8 starting March 14

LINCOLN -- March 10, 2022, Lincoln schools drop mask mandate 6-1 effective March 14, including at preschool. The School Committee voted Thursday to align with the Lincoln Board of Health, which rescinded the town's mandate the prior night, after Superintendent Becky McFall said the state Department of Early Education and Care had joined DPH and DESE in returning decisions to local districts. METCO representative Kim Mack cast the only no vote, saying she had "made it clear how I feel about this on numerous occasions." Masks will remain required in nurses' offices, on days six through 10 after a positive test, and where a nurse identifies a safety risk. McFall told the board, "we're celebrating having fewer COVID cases right now," and urged a culture that normalizes individual choice. The committee also voted unanimously to withdraw from school choice for 2022-23 and accepted an anonymous $4,800 gift to the Lincoln School Tree Fund.