DYER BROOK, Maine — Students at Southern Aroostook Community School can now go mask free if they so choose.
Southern Aroostook Community School joins growing list of mask-optional schools|The RSU 50 school board unanimously approved switching to an optional mask policy during a Monday, March 14, meeting.
“(RSU 50) is extremely fortunate,” RSU 50 Superintendent Jon Porter said. “The community has been really supportive of the school through the entire pandemic. It has not been enjoyable to watch neighboring superintendents and boards deal with the tough meetings over the last year or so.”
The mandate for Southern Aroostook Community School went into effect immediately following the board meeting. Porter said the move brings the school district in alignment with the Maine CDC’s recommendation to move from universal masking to optional, but with a caveat.
In the event there is a rise or increase in local COVID-19 cases, the RSU 50 school nurse and superintendent will collaborate to determine whether to reinstate universal required masking until such time they determine to return to optional masking.
Porter said RSU 50 will continue with its pooled testing policy. “Students and staff participation in pooled testing is still recommended by the Maine CDC and remains one strategy that can keep unvaccinated close contacts out of quarantine,” Porter said.
The board had no public comments on the mask policy. A number of staff members and the public joined the school board meeting via Zoom.
In other agenda items, the board agreed to extend its partnership with the Houlton/Hodgdon Adult and Community Education Center for educational and training services for the 2022-23 school year.
The board also approved its calendar for the 2022-23 school year.
