JAY — In an emergency meeting Tuesday, March 8, Regional School Unit 73 Directors voted unanimously to approve a mask optional plan effective March 9.

In making the motion, Director Elaine Fitzgerald noted the decision could be revisited should the Maine CDC update its recommendations.

Prior to the vote, John Benedetto of Livermore Falls spoke in support of changing the district’s policy.

“You know where I stand on masks,” he said. He hoped the vote would be in favor.

Benedetto spoke against masking at the Aug. 12, 2021, board meeting. At a meeting a week later, a 6-5 vote made masking mandatory in all Spruce Mountain buildings.

“I’m in support of no masks,” Frank Rangel of Jay said. “I hope we make a change for the positive.”

Rangel spoke of his son telling him he gets tired while running. When Rangel asked why, the son said maybe it’s the masks.

The district’s physician Dr. Michele Knapp wrote a letter to the board recommending the transition to optional masking.

She based her recommendation on the steadily decreasing number of COVID-19 cases, both in the RSU 73 community and in the state.

“However, masks are still required for anyone who is completing their 10-day period of isolation [for people who have had COVID] and quarantine [for people who have been exposed to someone with COVID],” she wrote.

A letter from the district’s four school nurses also supported the change. Their letter notes the peak number of cases was 71 the week of Jan. 9. The week of Feb. 27 there were five cases in the district, they noted.

“At this time, the state vaccination dashboard projects RSU 73 has a 40-44% vaccination rate for students,” they wrote. “We also have a staff vaccination rate of 80% or greater in each school. This is encouraging to see and adds an extra layer of protection for our school community.”

A letter Superintendent Scott Albert sent to staff, students and families notes RSU 73 will continue to follow the Maine Department of Education Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). In districts without a universal masking policy anyone testing positive for COVID-19 must wear a mask on days 6-10 if able to return to school.

Albert noted other instances where masks may be required include field trips or co-curricular activities where the venue requires masks. Those who choose may wear masks in Spruce Mountain schools and masks will be available upon request, Albert wrote.

Voluntary pool testing will continue to be offered and hand sanitizer will be available when entering buildings. Access to buildings for non-essential personnel will still be limited.

Following the meeting Albert said an email he received during February vacation indicated federal guidelines for wearing masks while on buses has also become optional. Prior to that email, masking while on buses was supposed to be in effect until March 18, he said.

Later Albert sent a letter to staff, students and families about the change in masking policy. “We still need to follow certain health and safety guidelines which are contained in the Framework for Returning to School and we must continue to follow the Maine Department of Education’s SOP,” he wrote. “Our goal continues to be having all of our students here 5 days a week in a safe and healthy environment.

“I appreciate your continued support as we strive to make our way back to normalcy,” he added.