At its meeting on Feb. 24, 2022, the Howard County Board of Education voted to make face coverings optional, effective March 1, based on the Maryland State Department of Education’s off-ramp option one for school districts to lift mask requirements.
The Montgomery County Board of Education announced that it will be holding off on making any changes to the school mask requirement until March 8.
On Tuesday, February 22, the Maryland State Board of Education voted 12-2 today to rescind its statewide mask mandate for public schools, effective March 1.
The Maryland General Assembly’s Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review Committee (AELR) is scheduled to meet tomorrow, February 25, to approve the Maryland State BOE’s decision.
MCPS Superintendent Monifa McKnight said she was waiting on the AELR’s decision before moving forward with any changes.
Last night, the Frederick County Board of Education of voted to encourage face coverings but no longer require them inside all school buildings effective Friday, Feb. 25.
The full message from Howard County can be seen below:
Effective Tuesday, March 1, universal indoor masking in HCPSS buildings is no longer required. Any student, staff or visitor may choose to wear a mask, and should feel comfortable doing so. Schools and offices will continue to have additional masks available as needed. The federal requirement for masks on public transportation remains unchanged so anyone on a school bus will still be required to wear a mask.
Shifting to optional mask-wearing impacts a number of other areas and additional information will be shared with the community on Friday, Feb. 25 regarding these impacts.
“I am pleased that the Board of Education has voted to support the use of this ‘off-ramp.’ While the Superintendent had noted his intention to lift the mandate following the Maryland General Assembly committee’s vote on Friday, Feb. 25, we wanted to provide our community additional notice regarding this change.” stated Vicky Cutroneo, Board of Education Chair. “As we have seen a decline in cases and transmission in our county, and the optimistic community message from the Health Department this week regarding declining metrics, I believe this is the right time to make masks optional.”
“It is encouraging that nearly all metrics that our health department has used to inform COVID-related decisions have seen a decline for the first time in these last three months and I commend HCPSS students, staff and community for our collective efforts to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 in our community,” stated Superintendent Dr. Michael J. Martirano.
“While masks will no longer be required in schools, every student and staff member should feel encouraged and supported to make the decision they feel most comfortable with,” he continued. “We will remind students and staff to practice civility and respect the choices of others when it comes to masking, and I seek the community’s support and collaboration in reinforcing and modeling this behavior for our children. System and school leaders will work to ensure the safety and well-being of our staff and students as we make this transition.”
The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) is implementing a 25% increase to the daily rate for substitute teachers, as approved by the Board of Education.
The daily rate for substitute teachers in HCPSS prior to the increase can be seen below:
- Non-degree (minimum 60 credits) – $100
- Degree (BA or higher) – $110
- Retired Teacher (verification required) – $125
Pay rates in MCPS are currently $18.79 per hour for non-certified teachers and $19.97 per hour is the substitute is teacher-certified.
The 25% increase, which took effect immediately (January 13, 2022) will be funded as part of the Howard County Public School System’s (HCPSS) FY22 Operating Budget.
“Substitute teachers are an absolutely essential part of our school operations and have been critical to maintain operations throughout the pandemic,” said Superintendent Michael J. Martirano Ed.D. “They have stepped in to help in a myriad of ways, ensuring that our students are supported amidst ever-changing circumstances. This increase helps maintain Howard County schools as a destination that attracts high-quality substitute teachers to fill in when our teachers are absent.”
High demand for substitute teachers exists throughout Maryland. The new pay increase places HCPSS among the highest paying districts in the state for substitute teachers, helping to attract top candidates to the position.
“We have relied heavily on substitutes over the past two years and I am grateful we are able to offer this financial incentive for their continued service to our students,” said Board Chair Vicky Cutroneo. “Their willingness to step in at a moment’s notice has been invaluable.”
The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated higher numbers of substitute teachers in schools while staff are required to isolate or quarantine. Currently, there is a shortage of available substitutes similar to staff shortages in other areas including pupil transportation and food and nutrition.
Individuals interested in becoming a substitute teacher in HCPSS schools should apply online.
The Howard County Public School System announced in a letter to the community this morning that an alarming increase in Covid-19 cases (300 positive tests in the last 3 days) has led the school system to suspend the following activities through January 15th, 2022.
- Athletic practices and contests
- Theater rehearsals and performances
- School concerts and performances
- Extracurricular activities
- Field trips
HCPSS will re-evaluate on January 7th, 2022 to determine if an extension is necessary.
Additionally, HCPSS has noted that the Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021 and Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022 meetings of the Howard County Board of Education, previously scheduled as hybrid sessions, will be held virtually.
The full letter to the committee can be seen below:
“Dear HCPSS Community,
Over the course of the last two weeks, since the Thanksgiving break, positive COVID-19 cases in schools have increased at an alarming rate. For reference, on Nov. 18, our seven-day total of positive COVID cases in schools was 75, with 1,151 students and 34 staff members in quarantine. As of this morning, we are nearing 300 positive COVID cases in schools just in the last three days. In addition, we currently have 3,720 students and 146 staff members in quarantine.
Throughout this pandemic, we have continued to work with the Howard County Health Officer Dr. Maura Rossman and her team at the Howard County Health Department (HCHD) to review positive case rates, vaccination data, coordinate efforts, and seek guidance as we have considered decisions related to school system operations. It is absolutely essential that we do all we can to keep schools open and ensure each school remains a healthy learning environment for students and staff. The escalation in positive cases has put a strain on school health staff to accurately identify and complete close contact communications in an efficient manner. In fact, the current number of cases in many of our schools has become challenging from a notification standpoint.
In an effort to slow the spread of the virus and keep schools open, HCPSS is implementing temporary mitigation strategies, effective immediately.
The following in-person activities are suspended immediately through Jan. 15, 2022, with a reevaluation on Jan. 7, 2022, to determine if an extension is necessary:
- Athletic practices and contests
- Theater rehearsals and performances
- School concerts and performances
- Extracurricular activities
- Field trips
All activities that may move to virtual participation may do so. Schools will provide more information to students and families as these decisions are made.
Use of HCPSS indoor facilities will not be permitted for any activities except for before and after care. Schools will work with PTAs to move in-person meetings and events to a virtual format. Contracted staff who work for before- and after-care and other service providers, such as bus drivers, are still required to maintain their vaccine or testing requirement for employees and universal masking remains in place. More information will be provided once these activities may be resumed, and schools will share new dates for scheduled performances and activities.
In addition, to assist with the rising number of positive cases, we will be working with the Howard County Health Department and our screening provider to hold COVID-19 screenings at schools, as directed by the Health Department. More information will be shared with school communities as the details are finalized for this screening opportunity.
It is critical that all families continue to monitor their child’s health each daybefore they leave for school and do not send your child to school if they display any symptoms of COVID-19 or other communicable diseases. Additionally, maintain masking wherever possible and get the vaccine if you haven’t already.
Several months ago as we were planning for this school year, I was very clear: Not only do we want to start the 2021-2022 school year with fully in-person education for the majority of our students, we want to keep it that way for the entire year. Not for two weeks. Not for two quarters. But the entire year. This decision has been made with that singular priority in mind to keep our students in school by implementing as many possible mitigation strategies to assist.
We must all be part of the solution to stem the spread of this virus, keep schools open, and be able to participate in the social and recreational activities we all enjoy. Our actions over the course of the coming weeks can play a direct role in reducing case rates and allowing a safe return to these activities. Please do your part to keep our school communities safe, healthy and nurturing environments for all students and staff.
Sincerely,
Michael J. Martirano Ed.D
Superintendent”
The Howard County Public School Board of Education voted 8-0 in favor of a motion to “add in one additional 3-hour early dismissal each month for all students beginning December 2021 through May 2022.” The purpose of the calendar modification is to “provide school-based staff with additional time to address increased staff workload and to support employee well-being.”
According to HCPSS Board of Education Member, Vicky Cutroneo, the new early dismissal dates include:
- December 15th, 2021
- January 19th, 2022
- February 16th, 2022
- March 16th, 2022
- April 27th, 2022
- May 18th, 2022
Montgomery County teachers recently participated in a “MCEA Informational Car Picket & Rally at MCPS Headquarters,” which took place 4pm at MCPS headquarters (850 Hungerford Drive) on October 26th.
The purpose of the car picket and rally was to “stop the exploitation of staff” and was described as a collective action to demand that the MCPS Board of Education address outstanding educator concerns around workload.
