State may mandate mask-wearing in schools, relieving district of a highly debated decision
On the agenda for the regularly scheduled Northport-East Northport Union Free School District board meeting happening tomorrow, August 26, is Superintendent Robert Banzer’s report on the 2021-2022 school reopening plan. The public unveiling of the plan comes a day after newly sworn-in New York State Governor Kathy Hochul called on state health officials to impose a universal mask mandate in public schools. The governor also discussed implementing a vaccine order that may make Covid-19 vaccines mandatory for all school staff, with an alternative option of weekly testing.
The meeting is taking place at a time when the debate over mask mandates is increasingly pitting community members against one another. Neighbors remain strongly divided on the issues, with some calling for the district to “unmask our kids,” and others urging the district to require masks in schools.
For the past month, local school boards were tasked with making reopening plans and policies on their own. In early August, New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker said local school districts “should develop plans to open in-person in the fall as safely as possible.” He recommended following guidance from the CDC and local health departments. At the time, neither the governor’s office or the Department of Health (DOH) had issued any guidance. Gov. Hochul’s recent announcements, though, indicate that the state, and the DOH, may take the onus off the district, and make masks in school mandatory.
District officials had originally told the Journal that the board intended to hold a meeting prior to August 26 to render a final decision regarding the district’s reopening plans, but one was never scheduled. Tomorrow, the board will vote on whether or not to approve the reopening plan, as presented by Superintendent Banzer.
The meeting is a full one. Also on the agenda is a public hearing on the District-Wide Safety and Emergency Management Plan, which can be found here, as well as the superintendent’s financial and personnel action reports, including the changes in positions for former Dickinson Avenue Elementary School principal Laurie Storch to assistant principal at East Northport Middle School, and former Bellerose Avenue Elementary School principal Lori Beekman to principal at Pulaski Road Elementary. Angelo Cocchiola, formerly assistant principal at East Northport Middle School, will now be an assistant principal at Northport High School.
The Thursday, August 26 meeting will take place at 7pm in the high school auditorium. The meeting will also be available via Zoom. Anyone interested in taking part in the public participation part of the meeting must register via this link by 4pm on August 26.
When asked about recurring technical problems experienced by district residents tuning in via Zoom in the past, district officials said they are “working on providing an improved livestream for those watching remotely.”
