Lewiston superintendent to recommend making masks optional
Share
Updated: 11:11 PM EDT Jul 28, 2021
Terry Stackhouse
Share
Updated: 11:11 PM EDT Jul 28, 2021
Hide Transcript
Show Transcript
TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY WILL REQUIRE FACE COVERINGS BECAUSE THIS IS 'GUIDANCE' - THE 'HARD PART' NOW IS F OR SCHOOL BOARDS AND SUPERINTENDENTS TO CRAFT THEIR OWN MASK POLICIES. THAT'S WHAT STEVE BAIL, EY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MAINE SCHOOL MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION, TOLD ME. TO NIGHTHE T SUPERINTENDENT OF ONE OF THE STATE'S LAESRGT DISTRICTS SAYS HIS COMMUNITY IS COMFORTABLE GOING WITHOUT MASKS. "I AM FEELING COMPELLED AT THIS POINT IN TIMEO TMAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE NT EX MONDAY NIGHT TO MAKE MASKING OPTIONAL." LEWISTON SUPERINTENDT EN JAKE LANGLAIS SAYS BECAUSE SCHOOL MASK GUIDANCE IS NOT MANDATED -IS H RECOENMMDATION COMES IN RESPONSE TO COMMUNITY OBSERVATION. "I SAW A LOT OF PEOPLE LIVING LIFE MASK FREE." TODAY - STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS - MIRRORING GUIDANCE FROM THE U-S CDC RECOMMENDING EVERYONE IN ALL SCHOOLS MASK UP GARERDLESS OF VACCINATN IO STATUS. WHILE ENCOURAGING SCHOOL MASKING AND VACCINATION FOR THOSE ELIGIBLE, MAINE CDC DIRECTOR DR. NIRAV SHAH ACKNOWLEDGES SE OM DISTRICTS MAY CHOOSE NOT TO FOLLOW GUIDANCE. "THESE ARE RECOMMENDATIONS AND THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY THA SOME SCHOOLS OPT TO GO IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION BUT WHAT WE'VE SEEN CONSISTENTLY OVER THE LA ST SCHOOL YEAR IS THAT STUDENTS, STAFF, TEACHERS AND PARENTS HAVE DONE REALLY HARD THINGS TO KEEP MAINE SCHOOLS AMONG THE SAFEST OUT THERE." THERE COULD BE PRESSURE FROM SOME PARENTS R FO DISTRICTS NOT TO REQUIRE MASKS. IN AN INTERVIEW LAST WEEK, NICK BEGIN - FOUND ER OF THE GROUP 'BACKTO5' WHICH FIRST PUSHED TO FULLY REOPEN SCHOOLS - PLEDGG IN TO PUSBAH CK AGAINST MASK MANDATES. "IF THE GUIDANCE IS OUT THERE THAT'S FINE BUT T LE THE PARENTS MAKE THE ULTIMATE CHOICE ON WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THEIR CHILDREN." LANGLAIS - SAYING TONIGHT IF THE STATE INCLUDED IN THE GUIDANCE ADOPTED BY STATE LEADERS TODAY - INDOOR MASKING RECOMMENDATIONS - EVEN FOR THOSE FULLY VACCINATED THAT'S ONLY FOR COUNTIES WITH AT LEAST 'SUBSTANTI' AL TRANSMISSION OF COVID-19 . ACCORDING TO CDC DAT