Sharon Board of Health Mask Order

 

Overview

Public records request into the reason Sharon Board of Health issued a mask mandate in advance of the 2021-2022 school year.

  1. Mike Hugo of the Mass Association of Health Boards sent a letter to the teacher’s unions and all local boards of health encouraging the boards of health to adopt a mask mandate, along with a sample policy.

  2. Sharon town administrator allowed town employees who worked in an office alone to not wear a mask, even though this exception was not in the BOH mandate. This means the higher-up administrative workers do not need to wear masks while the public-facing ones do.


Response

Emails as PDF.

Request

Please consider the following a Freedom of Information Act Request. I would like to gain all electronic correspondences (emails, texts, etc) that meet the following parameters:

1.    Time: from June 1, 2021 - August 11, 2021

2.    Who: Sharon Department of Health or Sharon Board of Health corresponding with any of the following entities: School Committee, Select Board, Superintendent, Sharon Public School, Sharon Teachers Association, Massachusetts’s Teacher’s Association, and any individual in their professional capacity as an SPS employee.

3.    Topic: Sharon Department of Health or Sharon Board of Health issuing an order mandating masking in Sharon Public Schools. This includes inquiries/requests before the order was issued and reactions after the order was issued.

4.    May exclude: correspondence about recommendations from Department of Health/Board of Health on health/safety.

Interesting findings

 

Model Policy

Michael R. Hugo from the Massachusetts Association of Health Boards sent an email to the teacher’s unions and all local health boards asking them to implement a model mandatory masking policy in government buildings AND schools (see page 22).

 

Rules for thee

The town administrator allowed workers who had their own office to not wear a mask. This is exception is in direct violation of the actual Sharon Board of Health mask mandate.


Pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 111 sections 31 and 104, the Sharon Board of Health adopts a health mandate effective August 23, 2021, requiring properly worn (over mouth and nose) face coverings for all persons at all times when inside public spaces or private spaces open to the public. This mandate applies to individuals aged two years and over except where an individual is unable to wear a face covering due to a medical condition or disability.


See page 20.