On Saturday, Feb. 26, the school superintendents in the HFM region wrote Gov. Kathy Hochul and Health Commissioner Mary Bassett a letter urging the state to update the masking guidelines for schools following the new recommendations issued by the CDC this week.
On Friday, Feb. 25, the CDC announced it no longer recommends that communities with low/medium transmission risks require indoor masking in most public spaces, including schools. The CDC now designates Hamilton, Fulton and Montgomery counties as having a low transmission risk.
Earlier this month, the governor announced she would reevaluate the school mask requirement by March 4. The HFM school superintendents are urging the governor to act sooner, prior to the return from Winter Break on Monday.
Until the state issues updated guidance, school mask requirements remain in place for students, staff and visitors. Please know that we will update Mayfield families as soon as any changes to the requirements are made. We thank you for your cooperation during this time.
Below is the text of the letter signed by area superintendents:
February 26, 2022
Honorable Kathy Hochul Commissioner Mary T. Bassett, MD, MPH Governor of New York State New York State Department of Health NYS State Capitol Building Corning Tower, Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12224 Albany, New York 12203
Dear Governor Hochul and Commissioner Bassett,
As you are aware, on Friday, February 25, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new guidelines for masking, and in particular, updated guidelines for masking in schools.
As you may recall, on January 28, the school superintendents of the Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery county area endorsed a letter written by our colleagues in the Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex region entitled “Pathway to Normalcy.” That letter asked for information and metrics to allow our students and staff to have a roadmap to move away from the current masking requirements.
We write you today with a sense of urgency asking you to implement the following measures, before students return from vacation on Monday, February 28:
· In compliance with the new CDC recommendations, remove the mandate for masking for school facilities and on school busses in counties identified by the CDC at low or medium levels of risk.,
· Provide guidance to school districts, parents, and staff about the factors that would trigger the reintroduction of masks, and;
· Provide guidance to school districts on changes to other mitigation layers including social distancing.
Sincerely,
The Superintendents of Schools in the HFM BOCES region:
Richard Ruberti, Greater Amsterdam Stephen Tomlinson, Broadalbin-Perth Dr. Nick Fitzgerald, Canajoharie Michelle Ellis, Edinburg Common Thomas Ciaccio, Fonda-Fultonville Jeffery Ziegler, Fort Plain David Halloran, Gloversville Enlarged Dr. William Crankshaw, Greater Johnstown Heather Philo, Lake Pleasant Christopher Harper, Mayfield Dr. Leslie Ford, Northville Richard Rose, Piseco Adam Heroth, Oppenheim-Ephratah-St. Johnsville Thomas Sincavage, Wells Nicole Dettenrieder, Wheelerville
CC:
New York State Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara New York State Assemblyman Robert Smullen New York State Senator Michelle Hinchey New York State Senator James Tedisco Laurel Headwell, Fulton County Public Health Erica Mahoney, Hamilton County Public Health Sara Boerenko, Montgomery County Public Health David Ziskin, District Superintendent, HFM BOCES