Marlborough School Committee adopts MASC-aligned mask policy for Sept. 1 reopening

MARLBOROUGH -- August 24, 2021, Marlborough adopts updated mask policy as bus driver shortage looms over Sept. 1 reopening. The School Committee voted unanimously on Aug. 24 to approve Policy 8.500, aligning local face-mask language with a Massachusetts Association of School Committees model, hours after the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted 9-1 to authorize a statewide mandate. Director of Finance and Operations Doug Diaz warned that transportation will be "challenging" because of a 15 percent driver shortfall, telling members "there will not be a route that doesn't run in Marlboro" but that buses will be late when drivers call out. The district is paying for CDL training and offering $1,000 retention bonuses to Marlborough-based drivers; Transportation Coordinator Steve Phelan rebuilt routes to need six fewer drivers. Diaz also reported 332,000 remote meals served since the pandemic began, and the committee accepted $4,131.69 in donations from O'Connor Portraiture.