Serving Williston Park, East Williston, Mineola, Albertson and Searingtown
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Friday, August 27, 2021
Vol. 70, No. 35
SCHOOLS & EDUCATION
FROM HERRICKS TO TOKYO
HOCHUL IN, CUOMO OUT AS GOV
PAGES 23-26
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PAGE 6
Gov implements mask mandate in N.Y. schools Hochul order consistent with North Shore district policies BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z School districts on the North Shore rolled out plans for safely reopening this fall, imposing mask mandates and other measures even before New York’s new governor announced that masks would be required in all schools in the state to stop the spread of the coronavirus. The mask mandates have been met with ire from some residents. On Tuesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul, who replaced Andrew Cuomo after he resigned in disgrace, said at a news conference: “My number one priority is getting children back to school and protecting the environment so they can learn safely. I am immediately directing the Department of Health to institute universal masking for anyone entering our schools.” Hochul said the state will use $335 million in federal funds to launch a program that will provide coronavirus testing in all school
districts. Hochul also advocated for teachers and staff members to be vaccinated, but aims to arrange weekly testing for those not vaccinated. Over the past week, the Mineola, Roslyn, Sewanhaka and New Hyde Park-Garden City Park school districts unveiled reopening plans. The North Shore school districts called for mask mandates for indoor activities, regardless of a student or staff member’s vaccination status, along with three feet of social distancing in the classroom. Districts said they will adhere to guidelines from the state Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding any further measures that may need to be taken with a rise in cases with the delta variant. According to CDC guidelines, a close contact is defined as someone who was within six feet of an infected individual for at least 15 minutes Continued on Page 34
PHOTO COURTESY OF HERRICKS PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Herricks High School held an art camp that brought students and talents together to make different projects using various disciplines. See story on page 47.
Mineola ed board beats gov to mask mandate BY B R A N D ON DUFFY
The move came after the Port Washington school district’s similar plan while adherThe Mineola Board of Edu- ing to recommendations from cation announced last Thurs- the Centers for Disease Control day that masks will be required and Prevention to stem the coronavirus pandemic. when the school year begins.
It also came before Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Tuesday that masks would be mandatory for students and staff at all school districts in the state. Continued on Page 35
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