March 2, 2022
Dear RSU 71 Students, Families and Community Partners,
The scientific metrics by which communities make decisions have changed. The U.S. and Maine CDCs are now looking at the rates of serious illness and hospitalizations, rather than positive case counts. Waldo County is one of only three counties in Maine that are no longer in the Red/Orange zone (in which universal masking is strongly recommended); we are now in the Yellow zone which suggests that masks can be optional except for those at risk due to health problems. Staff and students may continue to mask; RSU 71 has ordered and received KN-95 medical-grade masks, which administrators can request from the central office administrative assistants. Maine CDC has said that wearing these kinds of masks is an important mitigation tool for people at risk due to health issues.
The school board has been deliberating and discussing our district's covid-19 prevention plan at the second board meeting of every month, and has had a long-standing commitment to drop universal masking as soon as scientific metrics and the CDC have said we could safely do so.
On Monday night the board voted unanimously:
- to eliminate contract tracing beginning Tuesday, March 1;
- to eliminate the need to wear masks outside beginning Tuesday, March 1;
- to put pooled testing in place for our Pre-K students by Monday, March 14;
- to eliminate -- beginning Monday, March 7 -- the universal masking mandate and instead make masking optional for students and staff.
Background Information:
- The motion: "Upon motion of R. Otis and seconded by R. Harden the board voted unanimously to eliminate contract tracing, plan for PreK to participate in pooled testing, and make masking outside optional for all K-12 students and staff effective on Tuesday, March 1, 2022, and to make masking optional for all K-12 students and staff inside and outside of all schools and grounds beginning March 7, 2022."
- If our community risk factor goes back into the Red/Orange zone, RSU 71 will resume universal masking. Let's hope we stay in the clear!
- The metrics: scientific rationale
- Article: Republican Journal masks
- Data from Survey Sent F 2/17/22
I continue to be heartened and inspired by the RSU 71 students and families, who continue to bring their best daily to the hallowed work of public education in support of our students, educators, and communities. I fervently hope that everyone will continue to feel safe. As always please feel free to be in touch with our staff and me with questions, concerns, and feedback. I acknowledge that this message should have gone out yesterday morning rather than this morning. My apologies.
With my very best regards, Mary Alice
Mary Alice McLean
Superintendent of Schools, RSU 71
(207) 338 - 1960
