Let's talk about this Board meeting on Tuesday

 After 47% or so of public K-12 students in the state were already under mandatory masking for back to school due to decisions made by their local districts, the Commissioner announced Friday (at 11:16 am) that he was asking the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education for authority to mandate masks in all K-12 public schools through at least October 1. 
They thus have called a special meeting for Tuesday at 10. It is a remote, public meeting, which you can watch here.

They are not taking public testimony.
The single item on the agenda describes the request as:

The Student Learning Time regulations provide that the Board may declare that “exigent circumstances exist that adversely affect the ability of students to attend classes in a safe environment unless additional health and safety measures are put in place.”   Upon such a declaration, I must then, in consultation with medical experts and state health officials, issue health and safety requirements and related guidance for districts. If the Board gives me this authority, having consulted with medical experts and public health officials, I will implement a mask mandate for all students and staff in all grades. 

The proposed motion reads: 

 MOVED: that the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, in accordance with G.L. c. 69, § 1B, and consistent with 603 CMR 27.08(1), determines that exigent circumstances exist that adversely affect the ability of students to attend classes in a safe environment unless additional health and safety measures are put in place, and authorizes the Commissioner to require masks for public school students (age 5 and above) and staff in all grades through at least October 1, 2021.  

Note, importantly, that this authorizing the Commissioner to require this; districts are required to follow state regulations. 

While I never count out a deliberative body, I would be surprised if they didn't pass this. 
If you are brand new to hearing about the Board of Ed, you may find this post from 2017 useful. Currently, the chair of the Board is Katherine Craven; James Peyser remains Secretary; Jeffrey Riley is the Commissioner, having been appointed to that position in 2018.