With state indoor mask mandate ending, what comes next for Pierce County schools?

Local school districts are figuring out their next steps in the wake of an announcement by Gov. Jay Inslee on Thursday that a Washington state indoor mask mandate will be revoked starting March 21.

In a study session on Thursday evening, Tacoma Public Schools superintendent Joshua Garcia told the school board he knows families and staff are eagerly awaiting more information, which is on the way.

First, the district needs to check with the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department (TPCHD), Garcia said.

“What now is going to happen is each local health authority will make determinations if they are going to have any additional requirements, knowing that the state mandate is being lifted,” Garcia said.

Reached by email on Thursday, TPCHD spokesperson Kenny Via said health officials are continuing to monitor local data as they review Pierce County’s indoor mask requirements.

“We’re committed to keeping our schools open and children safe,” Via said.

Dr. Anthony L-T Chen, director of health for Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, published an announcement Friday afternoon stating that he would rescind his local mask order to comply with the state’s. While masks will no longer be required in schools on March 21, TPCHD still recommends staff and students do so.

“The pandemic is not over,” Dr. Chen said in Friday’s announcement. “Please use the best tools available to help protect yourself, your family, and our community from COVID-19 in every situation. Our progress is because of our layered approach. If we remove one layer, we must improve the others. If you have not yet, get vaccinated today.”

Garcia said that until further notice, staff and students will be welcome to wear masks, and the district will continue to provide masks and other personal protective equipment.

When the state mask requirements are lifted on March 21, it’s possible students still will be required to wear masks on transportation, like buses, which is a federal requirement, Garcia said.

Other Pierce County districts told The News Tribune on Thursday they, too, are waiting for more information from TPCHD and the state Department of Health.

School districts are expecting updated guidance from the state Department of Health the week of March 7 to help prepare for the transition on March 21. The DOH will shift requirements to recommendations regarding social distancing, ventilation and sanitation, but schools will be required to report COVID-19 outbreaks and cases, and students and staff will still be required to quarantine with positive COVID-19 results.

“Governor Inslee stated today that on March 21, mask mandates will be rescinded,” Bethel School District spokesperson Doug Boyles said in a statement. “This includes masking at K-12 schools. We intend to follow that guidance and any updates from our local Tacoma Pierce County Health Department. Our intent at this point is to proceed with planning for removing masks in schools on March 21.”

Puyallup School District superintendent John Polm posted an update on the district website Thursday. After March 21, “unless directed otherwise by local health jurisdictions, mask wearing will be an individual choice for those who desire more protection in learning environments,” the statement said.

Polm said the district will continue to provide staff with access to masks and encourages people to “talk with children about respecting personal mask choices.”

“Where some may celebrate this news, others may not be comfortable with it,” Polm said. “Bullying or harassment will not be tolerated.”

Inslee said Thursday the decision was based on receding COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. While K-12 schools and childcare facilities will no longer have mask requirements, masks will be required at places such as hospitals, dental offices, long-term care facilities and correctional facilities.

State superintendent Chris Reykdal also spoke at Thursday’s press conference in support of the lifting of the mask requirements. He said in an announcement earlier this month that it was time to remove it.

“With high immunity rates and our ability to carry out rapid antigen tests with nearly every school district participating in our state’s COVID-19 testing program, the time is now to rebalance the health and educational benefits of masking in our schools,” Reykdal said in the statement.