Kids and staffers finally got relief from masks at Cobleskill-Richmondville schools Wednesday.
Superintendent Carl Mummenthey announced the new policy at Monday’s school board meeting. The move follows Governor Kathy Hochul’s ending of the school mask mandate on Sunday.
C-R’s new policy––masks are optional for students and staff in schools and on buses––is similar to that in Middleburgh, Schoharie, Sharon Springs, Gilboa-Conesville, Jefferson and Worcester schools.
The unmasking comes just after “there’s been a dramatic decline in COVID cases” at C-R, Mr. Mummenthey said.
Since the pandemic began, C-R has had 463 cases, 360 of which have been students.
“They’ve gone up by only 37 in the last two or three weeks since the last board meeting,” Mr. Mummenthey said. “We had days in January when we had 37 cases.
“This is really positive news.”
Although masks are off now, another COVID surge or another variant could make them necessary again.
But, Mr. Mummenthey said, “The Governor made it clear that future decisions on masks will be made by county health departments.”
Most parents, students and staff members will be glad masks are optional, although school board member Susan Strasser, a physician, noted that some will feel masks are still necessary.
Masks will be available at all four C-R schools and the bus garage for those who want them, Mr. Mummenthey responded.
School officials also noted bullying between mask wearers and non-wearers won’t be tolerated.
Students whose health is compromised or fragile can take remote lessons through Capital Region BOCES, Mr. Mummenthey said.
Schools offered that option for those students in September, and they can continue remote learning.
However, Mr. Mummenthey said, parents of healthy children can’t simply opt for remote learning.
While announcing optional masks, Mr. Mummenthey also presented board members with a new––but only proposed––16-point COVID protocol policy.
The policy covers such topics as encouraging vaccinations, social distancing, quarantines and more.
Mr. Mummenthey emphasized that the policy is only a draft; he expects board members to act on it at the March 14 meeting.