Masks Still Required In Long Island Schools Monday

UPDATE Sunday 8 p.m.: Long Island school districts were scrambling and dealing with frustrated parents Sunday. On Friday, the state announced a major change in school mask policy, saying it would allow districts to eliminate their mask mandates as soon as Monday unless the CDC objected. Some districts moved quickly over the weekend to announce that masks would become optional come Monday.

But then Sunday afternoon, the state's Department of Education sent a letter to school administrators to say that masks will remain required in all New York schools Monday in order to give the CDC more time to provide guidance on the topic.

The CDC has been clear in recent weeks that it believes schools should continue to require universal masking at least through the end of the school year.

Nassau County Executive Laura Curran didn't hide her frustration with the state.

"The conflicting messages coming from the state regarding masks in schools are causing confusion for school officials and parents," she said in a statement. "We need clarification immediately. This decision must be put in the hands of the educators and parents who know their children and particular circumstances best.”

ORIGINAL STORY — The mask mandate will be waived as of Monday for school districts across New York State — and on Friday, parents, residents and elected officials weighed in on both sides of the decision, remaining deeply divided.

Effective Monday, New York will allow school districts to waive the mask mandate for students, teachers, and staff inside school buildings, with masks optional and districts able to decide on what they individually deem best decision for their students.

The news came after rallies were held across Long Island this week —including one in Happaugue attended by Rep. Lee Zeldin — demanding that Gov. Andrew Cuomo "unmask our kids."

Cuomo responded Wednesday to the rallies being held statewide to demand children be allowed to unmask in schools: He said that while New York had followed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines that had, until the decision Friday, required masks in school until the end of the school year, "The mask mandate outside for students seems a little extreme to me. We're talking to the CDC about it."

In a letter Friday to Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, state Health Commission Howard Zucker said mask usage will be strongly encouraged indoors, but not required. Masks will not be enforced unless the CDC advises the state before Monday of contrary data or science, he added.

The CDC advised people who are fully vaccinated don't need to wear masks either indoors or outdoors, he added.

After news broke Friday, parents, residents and officials spoke out on both sides of the controversial issue.

New York State United Teachers President Andy Pallotta issued a strong statement on the New York State Department of Health’s planned changes to mask guidance for children in K through 12 schools.

“Announcing on a Friday afternoon that masks will now be optional for both vaccinated and unvaccinated people in schools starting Monday — with only three weeks remaining in the school year — is whiplash-inducing news. Short of any additional guidance from the state or the CDC before Monday, we implore school districts to closely evaluate local conditions and connect with their educators and parents to decide the best course of action for protecting their school community," he said.

Some parents were relieved.

"What a relief for the parents and children in New York," said David Samartino, who organized a rally in Eastport this week. "I think the lifting of the mask mandate will allow our schools to finish the year on a high note. There is no better way than to end the year with our children smiling in pride and everyone getting to see it. They definitely deserve this for what they endured this school year. They are the true heroes of the pandemic," he said. "Every parent that put pressure on the state, county and school district should take this as a win for the kids."

Not everyone agreed with the decision. Georgette Keller, a teacher in the Riverhead Central School District who survived a serious battle with the coronavirus, weighed in: "As long as kids can’t be vaccinated, masks should be mandatory — for teachers, too. As much as I hate them —and I’m vaccinated. Once a vaccine is available for ages two to 11, it should be mandatory, for teachers, too. It’s the only way to keep the most vulnerable safe."

Shawn Farash, who organized a series of caravans across Long Island in support of former President Donald Trump and who is now rallying to unseat Cuomo, held a Facebook Live to discuss the new directive.

"We have been heard. The collective efforts of parents and students throughout all of New York State, especially here on Long Island, have resulted in the lifting of the mandatory mask policies unfairly imposed on children in schools," he said. "We are proud of the fact that our peaceful yet powerful display of passion regarding this issue has resulted in the long-awaited end of the statewide mask mandate in schools, leaving the decisions up to individual districts from this point forward. State officials felt the effects of the mounting pressure that parents and students were relentlessly applying, resulting in a resounding victory for students statewide."

Parent Stephanie Piraino, who co-owns North Fork Cheer, agreed: "I’m very excited to be able to have my athletes go maskless at the gym especially being that summer is coming and they are so active."

Zeldin, who turned out at a Hauppauge rally in support of unmasking students, applauded the state's new guidance. “This is the right decision for children across New York, who have sacrificed so much throughout the pandemic and suffered emotionally, physically, and mentally from lockdowns and remote learning," he said. "I want to thank all the parents and advocates who joined me in repeated demands for the governor and state officials to follow the science and follow common sense, unmask our kids, and give them the return to normalcy that they are so desperate for and rightly deserve.”

Some parents rejoiced: "Thank God our children will be able to breathe freely, see each other’s faces and be somewhat normal again!" said one mother, who asked not to be identified. "I only hope and pray the school follows the new protocols."

Nassau County Executive Laura Curran said the lifting of the mask mandate in schools will "finally put the decision in the hands of the educators and parents who know their children and particular circumstances best. I’ve been pushing for this change and I am excited that our protocols are moving to match the tremendous progress we have made."

Tanya Zaleski, who lives on the North Fork, added that she believes I people should listen to "real science and not Facebook groups, memes, or one-sided journalism. The science is out there. Not everything is a conspiracy theory. It’s not political. It’s science." She added, "I do not have kids in school but if I did I’d want to wait for the data over the summer before making a decision for September."

"It should be a parent’s choice. End of story," said Mattituck mom Lauren Gilbert.

The new policy will align school and camp mask guidance, the state said. That guidance indicates that indoors, mask use will be strongly encouraged but not required for students, campers and staff/teachers/counselors who are not fully vaccinated. Outdoors, masks are not required; students, campers and staff/teachers/counselors who are not fully vaccinated are "encouraged" to wear masks in certain higher-risk circumstances. Both indoors and outdoors, students, campers and staff who are fully vaccinated do not need to wear masks.

Finally, schools and camps may choose to implement stricter standards.

With reporting by Patch's Michael Woyton.