Serving Roslyn, East Hills, Roslyn Estates, Roslyn Harbor, Roslyn Heights, Greenvale, Old Westbury and North Hills
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Friday, August 27, 2021
Vol. 9, No. 35
SCHOOLS & EDUCATION
4-ALARM FIRE AT HOCHUL IN, SANDS POINT MANSION CUOMO OUT AS GOV
PAGES 23-26
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Gov implements mask mandate in schools Hochul order consistent with N. Shore district policies BY R OB E RT PELAEZ 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 con-
ference: “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. Continued on Page 34
Roslyn school district OKs mask mandates PHOTO COURTESY OF BARRY’S
Barry’s, the fitness studio with 80 branches around the world, opened its most recent business in Roslyn. See story on page 2.
Tuesday meeting held hours before Hochul’s mandate BY B R A N D ON DUFFY
school districts in the state for the coming school year. The move in Roslyn folThe Roslyn school dis- lowed similar steps by nearby trict announced at a Board of school districts such as Port Education meeting on Tuesday Washington, New Hyde Parkmorning that it would initiate Garden City Park and Mineola a mask mandate for students, to stem the coronavirus panvisitors and staff, acting hours demic. The health and safety probefore Gov. Kathy Hochul instituted a mask mandate for all tocols, released last week on
the district’s website, say “indoor mask use will be universally required for all students and staff. This practice will reduce the number of quarantine cases that result in an interruption of learning time.” The safety provisions when classes begin on Wednesday will include three feet of soContinued on Page 35
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