MARYLAND–The General Assembly’s Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive, and Legislative Review (AELR) voted 17-1 on Feb. 25 to lift the statewide school mask mandate at the request of the State Board of Education and Maryland Superintendent Mohammed Choudhury.
Now, Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s county will shift to a mask-optional policy. For Charles County, their board of education has consulted with health professionals consistently to come up with this plan to make masks optional before the state board voted on the policy.
“Before this week’s vote by the State Board of Education, Superintendent of Schools Maria Navarro shared an update with the Board and community detailing how CCPS continues to move toward standard operating conditions. Since the start of the pandemic, CCPS has made operational decisions in consultation with the local and state health departments,” Michael Lukas, Chairperson for Charles County Board of Education, said in a news release. “Superintendent Navarro’s update included how CCPS would operate if masks were to be optional for students, staff, and visitors.”
Although Calvert county had a plan already, the board will discuss an official policy in their next meeting at 6 p.m. on Feb. 28.
After the state’s board of education voted earlier in the week, St. Mary’s county established masks will still be required on school buses as long as the CDC and the U.S. Department of transportation require it regardless of the AELR’s approval. Since the AELR approved the board’s decision, St. Mary’s County Public Schools announced that masking will not be required but will be recommended for those not fully vaccinated or who are medically vulnerable effective Feb. 28. They will provide surgical and KN95 masks for those who choose to wear them.
“We have all had our lives upended by this pandemic. For the past two years, we have put the focus on health, safety, and the incremental return to normal. This moves us one step closer,” Dr. James Scott Smith, Superintendent of St. Mary’s County Public Schools, said in a news release.
Also, Calvert county has gone with the state’s board of education and AELR’s decision to rescind the masking policy for two reasons. First, this school system does not have the power to upend the authority of those entities. Second, the data supports this decision. Currently, the parents will make the final decision on their child wearing a mask until the board makes a formal decision/policy.
“Today, the AELR announced they’ve rescinded the statewide COVID-19 mask mandate in Maryland. Therefore, neither the Calvert County Board of Education nor Calvert County Public School staff has the authority to enforce a local mask mandate in CCPS school buildings,” Calvert County Board of Commissioners said in a statement. “Indoor mask requirements in the early stage of the pandemic were crucial while we understood the science surrounding COVID-19. The data has become clear–children should no longer be required to wear masks in schools.”
With vaccination rates rising, each of the school systems in Southern Maryland seems to have the confidence to move forward with making masks optional. These counties are leaving this decision to staff, parents and students. As time goes on, both the state and the local school districts will keep track of these COVID numbers just in case policies need to change.