Yesterday the Montgomery County Council, acting as the board of health, made an agreement to end the mask mandate at 12:01am Thursday, October 28, if Montgomery County reached seven straight days of “moderate transmission.
On Monday, local health officials said the mandate would end at 12:01am Friday(because the county would still be waiting on CDC data to confirm the trend).
According to WTOP, council member Andrew Friedson said in yesterday’s meeting that the language of regulation means the 7th consecutive day would fall on this Thursday.
Friedson is quoted as saying, “if the Capitals win seven consecutive games, the first game that they won counts by any plain language understanding of what that means”.
Per the Montgomery County government website, “Montgomery County’s indoor face covering requirement was reinstated because the County reached “substantial transmission” level. It will end when the County returns to a “moderate transmission” status for 7 consecutive days. See the County’s COVID-19 data.”
The indoor requirement was reinstated back in August and would be reinstated again if the county returned to “high transmission” status for 7 consecutive days.
This does not, however, mean that students and teachers will not have to wear face coverings at school as MCPS will have to make their own decision on the issue if the Maryland State Board of Education decides to lift its mask mandate. The state BOR will revisit the issue in December.
Earlier today Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich released a statement on a vaccine mandate for county employees.
The statement can be seen below:
Let me be clear – every person in Montgomery County and every employee of the Montgomery County government who can be vaccinated should be vaccinated. It is the right health-care decision for you, your family, friends, co-workers, and community.
Currently, 78 percent of our County workforce is vaccinated and 16 percent have yet to report their vaccination status. https://montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/data/case-counts.html#mcg-vaccinations. To put this vaccination rate in perspective, if our County workforce was a state, it would be in the top 10 in vaccination rates. But we can and should do better, which is why we are working with the remaining employees and their union representatives to get every employee vaccinated and to register their vaccination status with the County. We are also looking at anomalies in the reporting data, which may also explain some of the lack of reporting. We are fortunate in Montgomery County to have union leaders who also agree that vaccinations are critical to the health and safety of our workforce and the public. Just last month, the County Council supported my effort to create a mandatory testing requirement for all unvaccinated employees – a constructive and collaborative approach embraced by our unions.
Unfortunately, several County Council members now want to rip up this plan and upend the collaborative approach we have developed with our employees. The recently proposed legislation to mandate vaccinations or be terminated is unneeded. This brinkmanship legislation is not smart policy. It will lead to staffing shortages, diminished public safety, additional financial costs to our taxpayers, and time-consuming legal entanglements – all outcomes I have successfully worked with our employees to avoid since the beginning of the pandemic.
Additionally, we know that there are activities that are high-risk – like eating indoors at restaurants – but the County has not mandated vaccination to address those high risks. To date, we have made a decision to focus our efforts on getting as many people vaccinated as possible and requiring masks when indoors in public spaces (except when eating or drinking).
It is hard to build enough trust to encourage any vaccine-hesitant employee to get vaccinated. Making threats and resorting to a “get a vaccine or else you’re fired in 40 days” policy is not the right approach considering the progress we have made in Montgomery County. Additionally, many of our employees served the community from the beginning of the pandemic when we didn’t have adequate protective equipment and when we knew so little about the virus. These employees put their lives – and the lives of their families – at risk throughout this pandemic. We owe it to them and to ourselves to continue our current efforts. I encourage the County Council to table this legislation and work constructively with me, our employees, and our union partners on a solution that is right for our community.
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich released a statement on the passing of Board to Education member Patricia O’Neill. The full statement can be seen below:
We are saddened to learn about the passing of Montgomery County Board of Education Member Patricia O’Neill. Her love of our children was only matched by her commitment to the constituents she served for nearly a quarter of a century.
Montgomery County lost a leader, public servant, and compassionate resident who was determined to make this County a better place for current and future generations. To honor her legacy, we need to continue the work she dedicated her life to.
I join all Montgomery County residents this evening in extending our thoughts and sympathies to Mrs. O’Neill’s family and friends as well everyone in our Montgomery County Public Schools community.
The LC 12U MoCoLoco All-Stars beat Berlin Little League 11-3 in the State Championship game to bring home the banner.
They will now move on to the regional tournament in Bristol, Connecticut, which will take place between August 8-14.
Their first game will be on August 9 at 10:00 am and will be broadcast on ESPN+. The team is currently two wins away from the Little League World Series.
We wish them the best of luck and congratulate their progress so far!
MCPS Graduation Dates, Times, and Commencement Speakers for Every School
Sarah Galvez (former social media director for Biden Campaign), Sarah Cooper (author and comedienne), Bibi Birelly (singer/songwriter), Kate Stewart (Mayor of Takoma Park), Alex Tsironis (founder of The MoCoShow), and Scott Van Pelt (ESPN host), are just some of the commencement speakers that will participate in MCPS graduations this year.
Full list of graduation dates, times, and speakers below (due to formatting issues, you may have to rotate your mobile device to view the full list below).
| Albert Einstein High School | Wednesday, June 9 | 6 p.m. | Melanie Abercrombie, Teacher, Social Studies | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alternative Education Programs | Tuesday, June 15 | 10 a.m. | Mr. Toriano Cross, Outreach Worker, Street Outreach Network | |
| Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School | Friday, June 4 | 9 a.m. | Mr. Charlie Bowling, Instrumental Teacher, Chevy Chase and North Chevy Chase ES | |
| Clarksburg High School | Monday, June 7 | 9 a.m. | Ms. Sarah Galvez, Former Director of Social Media and Audience Development for the Joe Biden Election Campaign, Clarksburg Alumna | |
| Col. Zadok Magruder High School | Thursday, June 17 | 9 a.m. | Sarah Cooper, Author and Comedienne | |
| Damascus High School | Friday, June 4 | 9:00 a.m. | John Pisanic, Teacher, Chemistry | |
| Gaithersburg High School | Thursday, June 17 | 6 p.m. | Ms. Michele Staymates, Teacher, Physical Education (currrent and retiring) | |
| James Hubert Blake High School | Friday, June 11 | 9 a.m. | Ms. Bibi Bourelly- Blake, Alumna, Singer-Songwriter | |
| John F. Kennedy High School | Tuesday, June 15 | 9 a.m. | Allison Seymour, Morning Anchor, Get Up DC, WUSA9 | |
| Longview School | Tuesday, June 15 | 10:00 a.m. | Ms. Lydia Dawley, Owner and CEO of Click. Speak. Connect | |
| Model Learning School | Friday, June 4 | 1:00 p.m. | ||
| Montgomery Blair High School | Wednesday, June 2 | 9 a.m. | Honorable Kate Stewart, Mayor of Takoma Park | |
| Northwest High School | Wednesday, June 9 | 9 a.m. | Rosette Award Winners from the Class of 2021 | |
| Northwood High School | Monday, June 14 | 9 a.m. | Mr. Daniel Stein- Northwood Teacher, Social Studies (selected by the Class of 2021) | |
| Paint Branch High School | Friday, June 4 | 9 a.m. | Dr. Darryl HIll Sr. Internal Medicine doctor, father of PB alumnus | |
| Poolesville High School | Tuesday, June 8 | 9 a.m. | Mr. Terry Young, Resource Teacher, PHS teacher (selected by Class of 2021) | |
| Quince Orchard High School | Wednesday, June 2 | 9 a.m. | Mr. Joshua Schuman- Teacher, Social Studies (selected by Class of 2021) | |
| RICA | Thursday, June 3 | 6 p.m. | Alex Tsironis, Founder of the MoCo Show | |
| Richard Montgomery High School | Friday, June 11 | 5 p.m. | Mr. Scott MacFarlane, Investigative Reporter Channel 4 News | |
| Rock Terrace School | Thursday, June 3 | 10:00 a.m. | Mrs. Barbara S. Delsack, Retiring Speech and Lang Pathologist | |
| Rockville High School | Wednesday, June 9 | 9 a.m. | Ms. Gabriella Diaz, Alumna, Graduating Senior Rockville HS | |
| Seneca Valley High School | Monday, June 14 | 9 a.m. | Mr. Jonathan D. Main, Social Studies Teacher and Co-Sponsor for the Class of 2021 | |
| Sherwood High School | Friday, June 11 | 9:00 a.m. | Scott Van Pelt – ESPN Talk Show Host , and SHS Alumnus | |
| Springbrook High School | Wednesday, June 9 | 9 a.m. | Marissa Chappell, Alumna/Senior Class President and Brandon Benjamin, Alumnus/Senior Class Vice President | |
| Stephen Knolls School | Wednesday, June 2 | 10:00 a.m. | Mr. Robert A. Tarloff, School Age Team Leader | |
| Thomas S. Wootton High School | Thursday, June 3 | 9 a.m. | Mr. Eric Luedtke, Member of the Maryland House of Delegates and Wootton Alumnus | |
| Walt Whitman High School | Friday, June 11 | 9 a.m. | Congressman Jamie Raskin | |
| Walter Johnson High School | Friday, June 4 | 9 a.m. | Mr. Fredrick P. Delello, Teacher, Social Studies | |
| Watkins Mill High School | Friday, June 11 | 9 a.m. | Grace Edwards, Alumna, Watkins Mill HS | |
| Wheaton High School | Thursday, June 3 | 9 a.m. | Mr. Giacomo T. Sciuto, Teacher. Social Studies | |
| Winston Churchill High School | Friday, June 4 | 5 p.m. | Ms. Elizabeth Campbell, Churchill Alumna, CBS News – Face the Nation |
Hans Riemer Announces He Will Run for County Executive in 2022
Montgomery County Councilmember Hans Riemer has announced that he will be running for County Executive in 2022.
He has been a Montgomery County Councilmember since successfully running for an at-large seat in 2010 and winning re-election in 2014 and 2018. He was unsuccessful in a previous run for the District 5 seat in 2006, losing to Valerie Earvin.
Riemer graduated from UC Santa Cruz in 1995 and worked for the National Academy of Social Insurance, where he interned during college. Later in 1995, he was hired as Public Policy Associate at the Save Our Security Coalition, under Arthur S. Flemming.
In 1996 he founded the 2030 Center, a non-profit policy organization focused on protecting Social Security, improving health care, and supporting progressive solutions for fiscal challenges at the federal level.
In 2004, Riemer started working for Rock the Vote as their political director and led Rock the Vote’s partnership with CNN to host a youth debate in the Democratic presidential primary. In 2008 he joined the Obama presidential campaign, serving as the National Youth Vote Director before working for the AARP as a senior advisor on Social Security policy.
The following message is posted on his campaign website:
“Dear friends and supporters,
The Montgomery County Executive can set the tone and the pace for our dynamic and thriving community — by bringing people and ideas together to move us into the future.
Montgomery County needs progressive leadership that is effective and forward thinking. It is time to move on from the politics of the past. You know my deep convictions for Democratic values and my record as a councilmember with a vision for the future.
That is why I am writing to let you know that I will run for Montgomery County Executive in the June 2022 Democratic Primary.
COVID has taken a hard toll, but we are ready for the hard work of rebuilding and reinventing. It is time for:
- Economic development so that the next generation can live, work, and thrive here; and to help small businesses recover
- Housing policies that promote affordability and inclusivity, and support a growing workforce
- Creative investments in education to accelerate learning in the wake of COVID from pre-k to higher ed; and including new STEM talent pipelines for both students and jobless workers
- Climate policy that provides national leadership through local action
- Police reform that positions Montgomery County as a model for the nation in transparency and trust — and for youth and racial justice
- Finishing the Purple Line, the Corridor Cities Transitway and upgrading MARC into real commuter rail
We can do this!
Join me this June as I launch my campaign. Together, let’s build momentum to make Montgomery stronger and more vibrant! You can choose from two events:
In-person, Saturday, June 12th at 12pm at Silver Branch Brewery in downtown Silver Spring — a lively event with friends, food, and fun
Online, Wednesday, June 16th at 5pm via Zoom — an online discussion (link will be sent after you register).
The primary is on June 28, 2022. As in the 2018 election cycle, I will proudly run as a public finance candidate, meaning that I will only raise contributions from individuals, no special interest groups.
Use this form to let me know you are coming on June 12 or June 16. You can make your donation right away to help me reach the public financing threshold of 500 individual donations.
Thank you!
Your friend,
Hans Riemer“
Daily Cases in MoCo Continue Downward Trend as More than 61 Percent of County Residents Have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine
Per Montgomery County:
The age group in the County with the lowest number of vaccinated individuals is residents between 16- and 35-years of age—and the County hopes to increase those numbers. Those in this group can make vaccine appointments through County health department-sponsored clinics and through retail pharmacies throughout the community. The County has one of the highest rates of vaccination in Maryland.
With an increasing number of vaccinated residents, fewer appointments are being offered at the State’s mass vaccination site on the campus of Montgomery College in Germantown. However, more clinics are being offered near where people live, shop and go to school. See clinic details and appointment links for more details.
Young people ages 12 to 17 need consent from a parent or guardian to receive the vaccine. Consent is given as part of the online appointment scheduling process, so young residents with an appointment do not need to have a parent or guardian with them. Young residents who walk up without an appointment must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to provide consent. All youth must bring proof of age to the vaccination site.
Residents of all ages who want to get a vaccine also use the State website to find pharmacies offering the vaccine and make appointments.
Teens can tell friends why they should get vaccinated through the Take Your Shot video PSA contest. The contest offers entrants from Montgomery County Public Schools five SSL hours. All entrants become eligible for valuable prizes. So far, about 21,400 of the estimated 40,000 eligible 12- to 15-year-olds in the County have received at least one vaccine.
Governor Larry Hogan Lifts Mask Mandate, Effective Tomorrow (5/15/21)
Following the surprise announcement by the CDC, the state of Maryland will now also be lifting the mask mandate.
Per Maryland Governor Larry Hogan:
Effective tomorrow, Saturday, May 15th, the indoor mask mandate will be lifted in the state of Maryland.
In line with CDC guidance, the only exceptions will be public transportation, health care settings, and schools.
Businesses will still be able to set their own policies in regards to masking.
Amended order can be see here.
Data update per Governor Hogan’s deputy communications director, Kata D. Hall:
-Case rate per 100K has dropped 68% over the past 4 weeks (lowest since last July)
-Hospitalizations below 700 (680) for first time since November
-Reporting second lowest daily positivity rate on record (1.91%) today
Earlier today, Montgomery County Councilmember Andrew Friedson announced that Montgomery County will enter the final phase of reopening in two weeks.
MCEA Negotiates Wage Increase for Teachers
Several teachers across Montgomery County reached out to us to let us know that MCEA (Montgomery County Education Association), the teacher’s Union, was able to negotiate a wage increase for MCPS teachers.
The wage increase will include an adjustment of +2% as well as a step increase for those eligible. Montgomery County teacher salaries increase based on steps that are taken based on how many years of service a teacher has put in.
The wage increase will go into effect on May 3, 2021 and will include the previously mentioned step increase that was supposed to have been received in July of last year.
