By Wayne E. Rivet

Staff Writer

Christine Brown of Casco says the best birthday gift she could receive was “to see my son off to school on Wednesday morning (March 9) with a big smile on his face.”

To actually seehis smile, not hidden by a mask.

Brown’s birthday wish came true. By a unanimous vote Monday night, the SAD 61 School Board made mask wearing optional— both inside school facilities as well on district buses.

Superintendent of Schools Al Smith made the mask optional recommendation to the board as 217 people followed the discussion via Zoom on March 7.

“As we all know, things change rapidly. We were optimistic that things would be good when we came back from February vacation. Things change dramatically in the wrong direction after Christmas break. I am pleased to say our numbers actually reduced even further than prior to the February break,” Smith said. 

Smith said Governor Janet Mills got the ball rolling as the CDC scaled back masking.

“The governor said, should you wish, it’s not a mandate, to make adjustments with masking policies. I concur with that (designated March 9) date,” Smith noted. “I am sure a lot of parents are aware of this meeting tonight. I need tomorrow (Tuesday) to get out an accurate message before moving in this direction so that everyone will know where we are coming from.”

Smith informed parents tuning in that they will receive “duplicate” messages regarding the shift in mask policy — one stemming from the Central Office, the other from their respective schools.

“I also want to make sure everyone is respectful of those people who still feel the need to wear a mask, and some people are very comfortable with that,” Smith noted. “Some people do have conditions or situations that warrant them wearing it. I think we have a great Laker pride community, and I am sure that students and staff will respect anyone’s wish to continue to wear a mask.”

Casco Director Gary Lewis asked that such wording be included in the motion to move masking to optional. Lewis added to the motion that “school administration takes very seriously any discrimination, bullying that takes place and be dealt with in the strictest manner. Bullying will not be accepted in any form or case of those wearing a mask.”

Bridgton Director Pam Brucker echoed Lewis’ concern. Brucker has heard concerns from some parents, whose children don’t want to go to school without a mask on. 

“Some have to wear a mask due to health conditions. I think it is very important to reiterate that the board sends a strong message of tolerance and kindness is expected of all staff and students and parents regarding their choices,” Brucker said. “I think this is where parents can help us, too, by saying ‘it may be our choice not to wear a mask, but other people do take that choice, that they have that right too.’ Any support we can get in that regard will make it much easier for kids who are experiencing some peer pressure.” 

Casco Director Stan Buchanan urged SAD 61 staff to be “vigilant on the rise of bullying or teasing that start out small and escalate.”

Superintendent Smith reiterated that bullying is a concern to him on any level, for any reason. 

“I certainly would hope that our students — I know our staff will — will respect the decision of a parent or student. No one really knows how a person feels or knows of a condition that they might be going through. It’s the right thing to do is to be respectful of others,” he said.

Another concern Superintendent Smith looked to ease is the air quality in school facilities.

“I want so assure people regarding our schools’ air exchange. The air in all of our buildings is converted five to six times an hour. We have actually put in hyper-filters in our air exchange system which catches a lot of dust and other things of that nature,” he said. “We have also gone the extra degree — with our Covid grant money — to put in ionization process — every time the air passes through that system, it literally kills all bacteria that goes through that system. Our air is turned over to a better degree than any air you have in your house. Its quality would be like you were outside.”

Smith also pointed out that the requirement to wear masks on public transportation was removed on Feb. 25. SAD 61’s vote Monday makes masking optional no matter where kids are — in school or on buses.

Meanwhile, two other area school districts will also be looking at masking protocol. SAD 72 directors had masking policy on their agenda at last night’s meeting (March 9), while the Sebago School District will tackle the issue at its March 15 meeting.

SAD 61 directors also voted unanimously to reopen their meetings to “in-person.” Most recently, school board meetings were limited to in-person to directors and staff, while the public could tune in via Zoom (which allows for viewers to pose questions).

The first in-person meeting will be a budget hearing in The Great Room at LRVC on Monday, March 21 at 6 p.m. The board will also continue to offer Zoom as an option. 

“This has been a very challenging two years. We’re certainly not completely out of the woods, but we are headed in the right direction,” Smith said. 

Before the School Board took comments from the public regarding the masking recommendation, Board vice chairwoman Karla Swanson-Murphy called attention to a social media post using a “document that appeared to be an official school communication, which it was not” alerting viewers that the mask issue was on the School Board’s agenda.

The item was brought to Superintendent Smith’s attention.

“I hope, and I feel, the person who did it was just trying to get the information out. I realize social media is a powerful tool. One can release that information without duplicating or attempting to falsify an official document,” Smith said. “I just hope this type of thing doesn’t happen again…I’d like to think I provide information that the public needs. We’re always open to improvements, too.”

Board members posed a few questions to Smith, including would SAD 61 continue with pool testing and a 10-day quarantine for students who test positive for Covid. The answer: “yes” to both questions.

Smith noted that SAD 61 is still seeing 4 to 6 positive Covid cases each week.

“At some point in time, I may come back to you to look at the 10-day quarantine, but right now, it is prudent,” he said. “Other districts have gone to the 5-day (quarantine), but when they come back they have to be masked and have to be socially distanced.”

What parents think

Public comments were limited to three minutes, and Swanson-Murphy asked parents not to duplicate comments not knowing how many people would seek to chime in. Here’s a sampling of comments:

Erin Nelson of Casco, who has an eighth grade and fourth grade student, “We’ve all been masked for two years. As we all know, there is collective and growing call to unmask our children in schools all across the country. It’s time to move beyond the emergency phase of Covid, to a time that the presence of the virus no longer completely upends life in schools. It is time for masking to be a choice. I know you understand firsthand the most difficult and disruptive aspect this has been on everyone — on ourselves, the school staff and faculty, especially for our children. We have seen the harmful effects along with school closures on education, health and emotional wellbeing of the students. The consequences include failing grades, lapse social development, and increased mental health challenges. If these trends are not reversed soon we face the unthinkable prospect of a generation left behind, both academically and socially.” 

She added, “The State of Maine focus has been for people to take appropriate precautions. We continue to see consistent, significant declines in the cases reported in the community newsletter you send us each week. Maine also continues to be one of the most vaccinated states at 78%, including vaccinated children at a rate above the national average. Public health experts previously advocated for mandated masking in schools now call for eliminating these temporary measures. We have been e-mailed numerous community letters highlighting the guidelines (state and CDC). You have followed the guidance all along…”

She continued, “I sincerely applaud you for your efforts to support in-person instruction and your emphasis on social and emotional health, but it is now critical to move forward toward normalcy for students and families by letting parents know we are working to make masks optional. We must learn to live with this virus and not be in fear of it.” 

Amy Morton, students at Crooked River and Songo Locks, “The fact I am having to dial in to another school board meeting is so far beyond me at this point. This is, quite honestly, one of the most important board meeting, in my opinion, that we’ve had to date, and it doesn’t make sense to me that we can have a Super Bowl, we had the Olympics, we have parties and vacations, we can go sit at bars as adults, but I can’t express my major concerns regarding my children’s wellbeing to you guys in-person. That really saddens me. Kids have to sit in their classrooms all day long, day in and day out, for over two years now, and that’s just them being punished.” 

She added, “We as parents have complied with every safety measure that has been implemented over the last couple years….It’s time that us parents have input on these decisions....We are most definitely on the decline (case numbers). I strongly encourage optional masking immediately.”

Deborah Hamilton of Naples, second grade student with learning disabilities, “We’ve obviously seen the grave effects it has had on our children, not just academically but socially…I question the way we quarantine children. If a child is vaccinated or partakes in pool testing, whether they are direct contact or not, they are not asked to quarantine. Whereas unvaccinated children are to quarantine for 10 days. The CDC has indicated vaccinated people, children and adults, can contract and transmit this virus. Additionally, it can incubate for 14 days before someone tests positive. If the school district is that concerned about this being spread, why is it that it has never occurred everyone should be quarantining equally when this has been common knowledge now for quite some time. I think the district has been essentially using these children as pawns to push their narrative and unfortunately the only expense it has come at has been of our kids. I strongly encourage the school board to take that into consideration moving forward when it comes to asking kids to quarantine.”

Amber Webster, two middle school students and one at Crooked River, “I acknowledge the tough position the school board has been placed in over the past two years….You have no doubt endured great criticism no matter which side you fall on the mask debate. I don’t support universal masking. Our children have had their lives upended for two years. We need to make changes to allow them to be kids. At this time, masks are doing more harm than good. They create disciplinary situations between staff and students. They are unnecessary. They prevent non-verbal communication, which can lead to misunderstandings, especially at the middle school level, where you don’t know how someone is meaning what they are saying. A lot is lost when you can only see 10% of someone’s face. Kids need to bond with their teachers and fellow students, to be comfortable to share questions and concerns.”

She added, “Facial recognition plays a big role in forming bonds and trust, especially in young children. My youngest, 9 years old, I’ve seen him have great anxiety and grown apathetic toward school — two years ago, he loved school and excelled. He couldn’t wait to go. He never wanted to miss a day even when he was sick. To see him go from that to ‘I don’t care’ and ‘I don’t want to go,’ it breaks my heart. It really does.”

Katie Chalmers of Bridgton, “I’m in favor of students continue to wear masks. I, like everyone else, am tired of wearing a mask. I firmly believe that the decision to make masks optional at this point in time is premature. While Covid numbers are on the decline, the virus is still with us and there is still community spread in our region. I know that I am not alone in sharing this feeling of continued masking requirements in our school district. I have communicated with many parents, some of which work in the healthcare field, concerning this matter and unfortunately many families aren’t comfortable to voice their concerns. So, I am speaking on their behalf tonight.”

She added, “Last week, the Yarmouth school district voted to make masking optional, effective today (Monday). A family member of mine that sits on that school board and I have kept myself informed on the district’s decisions. I feel comfortable with Yarmouth’s decision to make masking optional at this time because 99% of the town’s population has been vaccinated against Covid. 99%. I would feel confident sending my child to school in Yarmouth without a mask. Unfortunately, that is not the case in the Lake Region school district. The average vaccination rate amongst the Lake Region community (Naples, Bridgton and Casco) is only 72%. I would like to know what the vaccination rate is amongst students and faculty in our district. I do not believe it is safe to send our students to our schools without a mask requirement at this time. If our vaccination rates were higher, I would feel much more comfortable…I do believe the Lake Region schools have done an excellent job mitigating the virus and keeping students in school, which is so incredibly important. I don’t understand how the district can even consider throwing away all the progress made so far out the window so quickly. I believe making masks optional would be a much more appropriate conversation following April vacation or even in the beginning of May when the weather is warmer and students can gather without masks outside. If we can continue to mask the Covid numbers in our communities will continue to decline, creating a much safer environment for our students. I know masks won’t be necessary come the fall 2022.”

Christine Brown of Casco, two students, “I have a fourth grader who has never loved school, it’s been a struggle. Unfortunately, Covid made this much worse. We even tried our hand at homeschooling, but the need for peers, professional guidance from the wonderful teachers and staff in our district brought us quickly back. We appreciate everything that they do.”

Brown pointed out that her daughter will be entering Kindergarten in fall, and has developed a stutter. 

“She will need to see her peers and teachers’ faces to articulate and learn. I am advocating for my children to have their childhood at school return to normal. Masking should be optional with no delay in implementation. The district case counts look excellent, the threat is now on par with sicknesses we have always had to live with. We truly understand that there will be some students and staff who choose to continue masking. That is their choice, and their comfort level should be respected.”

Michelle Thibodeau, two students at Crooked River, “We — as parents — have already had a chat with our kids with the hope that this is going to happen about how they will have classmates and friends who will choose to keep that mask on their face, and that’s okay. I hope all parents do that as well and keep bullying down.”