NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WBEN) – There must be an "exit strategy" created by the state to end the need for mask-wearing in school, according to the superintendent at Niagara Falls City Schools.
Niagara Falls City Schools had planned to begin the school year by only mandating masks if Niagara County was classified as a community with a high rate of COVID-19 transmission by the CDC. Niagara County is currently listed as a community with a "substantial" rate with 87 new cases per 100,000 residents.
"It does take some of the pressure off us," Superintendent Mark Laurrie said. "But I hope what's articulated is an exit strategy. When can we back down from that? I think it has to go hand-in-hand as an incentive to do the right thing."
Governor Hochul announced a mask requirement for school districts to begin the year. She will announce more school-related policies later this week which she said will be "concise and consistent."
Still, Laurrie acknowledged there will be some parents who are upset their child has to wear a mask.
"The mask issue has been very divisive and, in some cases, I don't understand the anger, but I understand people are entitled to their opinion," Laurrie said. "We have had a benchmark – to follow the CDC. We were going to go with that. We thought it was fair and we were articulating that.
But again, we're going to follow the governor's guidance. I respect that and respect her thinking."
Laurrie said he's advocated for local schools to make the decision on masking and vaccines requirement, saying universal rules don't work for everyone.
Despite disagreeing with the state's involvement in school reopening, Laurrie said he liked Governor Hochul's brevity, directness, and clarity.
"Without having a mandate, 90% of (parents and students at Gaskill Middle School orientation) had masks on inside the building," Laurrie said. "Even without a mandate, you would have seen a lot of mask wearing."
