Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - It is expected on Wednesday that New York Gov. Kathy Hochul will announce an update regarding the statewide mask mandate that's been in effect since December. According to a report from the New York Times, Gov. Hochul is expected to lift the overall mask mandate in the state and leave in place the mandate for masks in schools.
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Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz has already ensured that whatever the state decides regarding mask mandates going forward, the county will follow suit.
It was Tuesday when Gov. Hochul met with school officials across New York State, including the New York State Council of School Superintendents, New York State School Boards Association, Council of School Supervisors and Administrators, and more. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the next steps with regards to the COVID-19 pandemic, and listen to input from those officials on how to continue protecting schools against COVID-19.
"As we continue to see cases and hospitalizations decline, I believe it is important to work closely with groups and leaders on the ground so that we move forward in the pandemic in a way where we can stay in front of COVID-19 and keep New Yorkers safe," Gov. Hochul said in a statement. "Keeping schools open has always been my top priority, and I want to thank the teachers, administrators, and parents who joined me today to hear directly from them. I want to also remind parents and guardians to please get their children vaccinated, and boosted if eligible. The vaccine is safe, free, doctor-approved and the key to keeping our communities and vulnerable loved ones safe."
As part of Tuesday's meeting, the leaders of each group was able to speak directly to Gov. Hochul, and she was actively listening, respectfully taking into consideration what was said regarding the mask mandates for schools.
"The fact that she, at least, asks us, asks stakeholders for their opinions, and appears personally and listens to them in response to them in the moment is lightyears beyond her predecessor, in terms of engaging people," said Michael Cornell - President of the Erie-Niagara School Superintendents Association following Tuesday's meeting.
"Dr. Phyllis Harrington is the President of the New York State Council of School Superintendents. She gave comments on behalf of school superintendents around the state, and was unequivocal in the need for a date certain and metrics. She was clear in cautioning the Governor against using vaccination rates as a metric, and she expressed the plain fact that communities are hanging together with difficulty in the face of this masking controversy that seems to be lingering in New York State. The fact that there has not been, up to this point, a date certain or any firm description of the metrics that would be used as the off ramp for the mask requirement in schools."
It was last week Wednesday when more than three-dozen school superintendents in Western New York signed off on a letter sent to Gov. Hochul looking for an end to the mandatory masking of kids in schools. As part of the letter, the Erie-Niagara School Superintendents Association recognized the current masking order for schools in the state is scheduled to end on Feb. 21, 2022, and asked for the state to let the mandate expire.
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While Gov. Hochul did indicate during Tuesday's meeting that the lifting of the mask mandate for schools is under consideration, Cornell did not get a sense from the Governor that the masking requirement for schools will be allowed to expire on the 21st.
"I'd be surprised, based on what I heard today, if the universal masking requirement wasn't extended beyond Feb. 21," Cornell said. "The position of the Erie-Niagara School Superintendents Association is [still] that it should in fact expire on Feb. 21, but I don't know that's going to happen. ... Ultimately it's up to the Governor to make the announcement."
Niagara Falls Superintendent Mark Laurrie is in agreement with Cornell with a possible extension of the mask mandate deadline. While he says that decision would be a disappointment, he'd be more disappointed if also didn't come with a specific date with an end to the mandate in place for schools in New York State.
"Something has to give here. Some definitive answer has to give," Laurrie said following Tuesday's meeting with the Governor. "We need a metric, we need a date. We need to know we can't keep putting this in limbo or holding on, especially if masks are removed in other places. Schools have proven time-and-time again to be the safest places. Our cases are dropping to a low that we haven't seen in months. I believe it's the time to turn this into a local decision and react now."
"Would I personally, and professionally, like to see it removed all at once? Absolutely. However, I think that the 21st is a reasonable time for that announcement to be made, and I'm hoping it's in favor of removing, or at least giving local control to the decision to remove the masks."
While the expected announcement from Gov. Hochul will see the statewide mask mandate be lifted, it will be a bit yet before we see the masking requirement for schools be lifted. According to Cornell, it is an instance that is actually opposite of the recommendation of most public health experts.
"In New York State, the order of lifting of mask mandates has been the general population in public places first, workers for employees under the HEROS Act second, and then school children third," Cornell explained.
Meanwhile, Cornell and the other school superintendents of Western New York believe that with the expiration of the universal masking requirement for schools on Feb. 21, that should then leave any further decision for schools masking up or not on each individual district.
"I completely believe at this time, with this knowledge, nearly two years into this process that our boards have been elected to make the best decision first for the safety and security of their students, and secondly to help them achieve academically, socially and emotionally," Laurrie said. "I think it's all tied together, and I think school boards should have that authority to do the right thing for their community, along with their superintendent and staff. I've always felt that, I believe now is the right time to let that happen, and that's the way I'm hoping it lays out."
With the anticipation that mask mandates in schools are here to stay, for now, will that start to take its toll on the students and staff, who have already dealt with quite a bit since the start of the pandemic nearly two years ago?
"Students and staff have done more than a decent job. They've been excellent and outstanding. It hasn't been an issue," Laurrie said. "Yet, I know there's fatigue growing, and I know when they see the rest of the world moving away from it, in states that border us moving away from it, I think they start to become a little bit frustrated, as we all are. I think that the data shows that the numbers are decreasing. So I don't necessarily think it will be a hit to morale, but I think that everybody's entitled to some clearer information sooner rather than later. I think they'll continue to do what needs to be done, but I think it's time for some relief, and I think it's time for some local decision making."
Gov. Hochul is expected to provide her COVID-19 briefing at 11:15 a.m. EST on Wednesday in New York City.