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Is your cloth mask enough?

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With the rise of the highly contagious Omicron variant of Covid-19, there has been an increased call for better quality masks. With so many options to choose from it can be hard to know what to look for in a mask. The following is a breakdown of the various types and the benefits and disadvantages of each.

NIOSH Approved Respirators

Respirators that are approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) meet rigorous US standards. The most common of these is the N95, but others include N99, N100, P99, P100, R95, R99, and R100. Some of those listed may offer even better protection than an N95. When in short supply, as was the case at the start of the pandemic, it is recommended that these types of respirators be prioritized for healthcare workers. N95s are, however, widely available as of the start of 2022.

Note that true NIOSH approved masks will include an approval label that can be found either on the box or in the instructions. There will also be an abbreviated approval marking on the mask.

Fit and filtration are of the utmost importance when selecting a mask or respirator. When fitting properly, N95s filter up to 95 percent of particles in the air. A video demonstrating how to ensure a proper fit can be found at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tzpz5fko-fg. While one of the safest options available, they are not meant to be reused and can be costly. Some experts recommend that for those wishing to reuse their N95, they place it in an open paper bag and allow it to air out for at least a week before reusing.

It should be noted that respirators of this nature can generally not be found in children’s sizes as they were created for adult-use in specific fields.

Internationally Approved Respirators

The most common form of an internationally approved respirator is a KN95. While both N95 and KN95 masks purport to filter up to 95 percent of particles from the air, the biggest difference is how they are certified. The N95 is the US standard and the KN95 is the Chinese one. Like their KN95 counterpart, a KF94 respirator meets South Korean standards and an FFP2 Europe’s.

The CDC estimates that approximately 60 percent of KN95 masks on the market are counterfeit. The following link allows users to see if the manufacturer of their KN95 is registered with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA): https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfrl/rl.cfm. There are helpful lists on the FDA website as well including which manufacturers were granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for use in a healthcare setting.

There are a number of KN95 masks available in children’s sizes through retailers such as Amazon though it would be wise for consumers to do their due diligence in ensuring that they aren’t spending their money on counterfeit ones.

Surgical Masks

While not as effective as authentic N95s or KN95s, disposable or surgical masks, which are made from multiple non-woven layers, still offer protection. Like all masks or respirators, the fit is vital. The mask should fit snugly and should cover both the nose and the mouth completely. Masks with nose wires allow the users to customize them for a better fit. The CDC also recommends that wearers fold and tuck in unnecessary material under the edges. Videos on how to do so can be found online.

Cloth Masks

Two years into the pandemic, the variety of options for cloth masks seems infinite. Things to look for in a cloth mask include multiple layers of tightly woven breathable fabric, a nose wire, and a proper fit. Things to avoid in a cloth mask include a single layer fabric that does not block light, exhalation valves or vents, and an ill fit.

In general, the percentage of particles filtered by both surgical and cloth masks differ depending what source you look at though they are always significantly less than both KN95 and N95 respirators. While the quality of cloth masks also varies greatly, it is generally presumed that surgical masks offer better protection. It is sometimes recommended that those without access to KN95 or N95 masks layer a cloth mask over the top of a surgical mask for a better fit.

While many users prefer the comfort and cost savings of a cloth mask, some experts warn that cloth masks alone offer little protection against variants such as Omicron. CNN Medical Analyst Dr. Leana Wen said recently on CNN Newsroom, “Cloth masks are little more than facial decorations. There’s no place for them in light of Omicron.” Many hospitals require that patients and visitors swap out their masks for surgical ones.

With all of that said, any mask is preferable to none at all.

Plympton wins court decision on Title V

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The town of Plympton was vindicated by a recent Superior Court decision to uphold the Town’s bylaws restricting mounded septic systems to house lots of five acres or more.

Plaintiffs Arlene O’Donnell, trustee of the Anderson Family Revocable Trust, Ernest M. Stevens, Trustee of the S&T Realty Trust, and Richard Springer, a local builder, brought suit against the town for “arbitrary and capricious” enforcement of Plympton’s Title V regulations.

Plympton requires a house lot of five acres or more to accommodate a “mounded system”.  The lot under review was in fact three parcels, two that were not contiguous, that is they do not share a common border, and the total of both did not equal five acres.  The third parcel was a strip of land across the backs of the two lots in between the lots under consideration, thereby connecting the two.   With that 20-foot strip, the area of the “lot” could then total five acres.

Plympton’s Board of Health, Arthur Morin, Chairman, did not allow the permit for the system, citing regulations that “exceed the minimum requirements for subsurface disposal of sanitary sewage … provided by the state environmental code referred to as supplements to Title V of the State Environmental Code,” as the  board is allowed to do.

Because Plympton has no public water or sewer system, all agricultural and industrial wastewaters are deposited into the same aquifer used for the Town’s drinking supply.  The Court allowed that the Board of Health acted properly to protect the Town’s environmental resources and its drinking water supply by not allowing a lot configuration that would not support proper leaching of a septic system.

Nov. 1, 2021, Superior Court Justice William M White, Jr., issued the order.  The Plaintiffs had 60 days to appeal the decision, and did not.  The ruling stands in favor of Plympton.

New town seal for Plympton?

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Tax Classification Hearing

The Plympton Board of Selectmen met remotely Dec. 20, beginning their meeting with a tax classification hearing in conjunction with the Board of Assessors. Chair of the Assessors Ethan Stiles led the hearing. Mass General Law requires that all municipalities hold a hearing to decide how to tax all real properties from the following four categories – residential, open space, commercial, and industrial. The Selectmen will vote whether to charge a minimum residential factor determining a tax rate shift or single tax rate. Stiles said the Board of Assessors was recommending that the Selectmen select a factor of “1” thereby adopting a single tax rate for all classes of properties for Fiscal Year 2022, as was done in previous years. No members of the public wished to speak during the hearing.  Selectmen voted the single tax class as recommended by the Assessors.

Town Seal Contest

Nathaniel Sides spoke on behalf of the Cultural Council about a design contest for a town seal. “Cultural Council has funds that are available to us to use for a community initiative for promotion of arts and culture in the town. One of the ideas that we had bounced around… was the possibility of sponsoring a contest for the purpose of coming up with some suggestions for a town seal,” Sides explained. He said that residents have expressed discontent with the town’s lack of a seal. Sides noted that there wouldn’t be any expense to the town as they would be utilizing State funds. The contest would be open to professionals and amateurs alike. Selectman Mark Russo said his only concern was who or what would be the deciding authority. Sides said the authority to decide whether to use the winning design would ultimately rest with the Selectmen.

A waiver would likely need to accompany each design submission acknowledging that the designer would not have a monetary claim to the design. “I’m excited about this project,” Russo said.

Joy said her only request would be that they include the original in the options as there may be people who prefer that over the submissions. The Selectmen gave Sides their approval to move forward with the contest.

OBRA Plan

Treasurer/Collector Christine Kelly appeared before the Selectmen to ask them to vote to adopt the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) plan to replace social security for part-time, temporary, and on-call employees. Kelly said it would be a cost savings for the town. Kelly said it was likely to affect 36 employees though she acknowledged that the number is likely to fluctuate. Town Administrator Liz Dennehy and Chair of the Finance Committee Nathaniel Sides both gave their support for the measure. The Selectmen voted unanimously to approve the OBRA plan which would take effect on January 26, 2022.

Area 58 Discussion

The Selectmen next discussed Area 58. “I’ve been critical of the operation of Area 58 in the sense of it seems that things that we have wanted to take forward, haven’t happened,” Selectman John Traynor said. Traynor listed the TV channel being broadcast with sound but no picture as well as the meetings not getting posted to the Area 58 website citing problems with their service. Traynor said he looked into other providers including PAC TV who service Pembroke, Kingston, Duxbury, and Plymouth. “Duxbury, as I understand it, currently have all three. They broadcast it on a channel live, they have Zoom conferencing availability, and they have the public available to come to the meeting,” Traynor said. Russo commented on the recent glitches including some meetings that were not posted in a timely manner calling it “incredibly frustrating.” Russo said after speaking with Area 58, a new procedure will be in place that should aid in ensuring that meetings are posted within 48 hours. He said that plans to broadcast live are also in the works. He further said that in general, the Selectmen of the three towns are in favor of continuing with Area 58. The Selectmen agreed to have Area 58 come speak with them about some of the changes that they wish to see.

License Renewals and Appointments

The Selectmen voted through a number of various licenses including liquor and scrap metal. They also voted on several appointments. They included Tom Millias and Kathleen Cannizzo as Co- Zoning Enforcement Officers through June 30, 2022, John Canizzo Jr. as Special Police Officer through June 30, 2022, Geraldine Cellini to the Council on Aging through June 30, 2022, and Eliana Mullens and Patricia Gillespie to the Cultural Council both through December 20, 2024.

Town Administrator’s Update

Dennehy provided Selectmen with a Town Administrator’s update. Dennehy said that they were holding steady at over 12 percent for COVID cases. “So that’s not the best news,” Dennehy said. She also provided an update on the remediation work that needs to be completed at the Old Townhouse due to a mold problem. The estimate is $7,808. The Selectmen voted to authorize the work. Dennehy also acknowledged Sunrise Gardens who generously donated the wreaths for the holiday festivities in town including the Santa run.

Selectmen Raves

Traynor led off the raves. He said his wife worked with Cathy Drinan at the school and spoke very highly of her as have so many others. “She was certainly a force and obviously well loved,” he said of Drinan who passed away as a result of a house fire in December. “I do have a couple of people who have come forward and said they would like me to give a rave,” Traynor told his fellow Selectmen. He said that Jim Mustacaros wanted to acknowledge former Council on Aging member Michelle Llanes who worked diligently to find an electric wheelchair for a resident in need. The resident has since passed away and the chair is now being offered back to the town. Colleen Thompson said she had a request from a resident in town who was looking to have the town supply a truck to take away their spoiled food and other debris following a recent power outage. Highway Superintendent Rob Firlotte said that it wouldn’t be possible but he and Ben Sarro went down with their own trucks and brought it all down to the transfer station. He also thanked Ken Thompson who recently resigned from his role as Zoning Enforcement Officer.

Russo said, “Cathy Drinan was unbelievably special.” He also agreed about Thompson. “My main rave is kind of the opportunity of the holiday season. Obviously, a time to count blessings and a time of sharing and also a time to kind of slow down and rest a little bit and using that opportunity to reconnect and soften a little,” Russo explained.

Of Drinan, Joy said, “I just found her to be really just a kind soul and really dedicated to the town.” She also wished for people to have some peace and joy this holiday season.

Santa rode in a Plympton fire truck

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Sunday, Dec. 19, Santa and Mrs. Claus were treated to a fire-truck tour of Plympton to meet good little girls and boys who were all excited about Christmas.

Beginning at the Plympton Historical Society at noon, the E2 truck went to Rebecca Way, The Woodlands, Cranberry Knoll, Popes Farm cul-de-sac, Thomas Blanchard Drive and Marie Elaine Drive, Buttonwood Drive at Deborah Sampson, then to Brackett Terrace, Granville Baker Way, then finishing up at the Dennett Elementary School at 2:30.

Thanks go to Plympton Fire Capt. Cheryl Davis and her merry band of firefighter elves and the Plympton Police Department for giving up their Sunday to turn a cold, damp December day into a cheerful Christmas memory.

Silver Lake Girls’ Hockey Co-Op wins opener

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The Silver Lake girls’ hockey co-op with Whitman-Hanson got off to a later start than most teams did this winter season, but they enjoyed positive results in their opener.

The team, often referred to as WH/SL, faced off against Old Rochester on Sunday, Dec. 19 — and had a big showing on the attack. In a night game down at Gallo Arena in Bourne, many WH/SL players got in on the scoring action. The team beat Old Rochester 9-2, improving to 1-0 on the season.

There were a myriad of offensive contributors who pitched in to help the team win the game. Shea Kelleher led the way with a hat trick; her three goals were a team-high. The other player who scored multiple goals was Chloe Duff; she had two. Duff’s first goal of the game was the first of her varsity career. Additionally, WH/SL also got goals from Abbey Powers, Bridget Cardarelli, Lily Ulvila, and Kendyl Peterson.

Three days later, WH/SL played again. The team faced its first Patriot League opponent of the season: Hingham. WH/SL lost that one 4-1, falling to 1-1-0 on the season. Kelleher had the lone goal for the team in the loss and Peterson had the assist.

The next game for WH/SL will take place at home this Saturday, Jan. 1 at The Bog in Kingston against the Hanover Indians (5:40 p.m. start time).

Plympton BoH votes to limit Town House access

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On Dec. 14, 2021, at the regularly scheduled meeting of the Plympton Board of Health the following Guidance Order was approved by a vote of 3-0.

Plympton Town House COVID Guidance

14-Dec-2021

As the rate of positive Covid-19 cases has risen in Plympton to over 12%, there is concern about the health and safety of those working in and making visits to the Plympton Town House. The Plympton Board of Health provides the following guidance in regards to use of the building:

• 1. Activities in the Town House will be limited to those necessary for conducting town business. Any non-essential activities or gatherings will be suspended until further notice.

• 2. Only one visitor from the public will be able to access each individual department at a time. Signs will be provided with this guidance.

• 3. The Emergency Management Director will provide lobby personnel to reinforce this guidance and manage access in accordance with #2 above.

• 4. Town Boards and Committees will be encouraged to conduct remote meetings when possible.

Our hope is that visitors will take advantage of the procedures in place to take care of their business remotely. If in person visits are required, visitors will be encouraged to conduct their business according to this Order to protect the health and safety of visitors and town employees.

This guidance will be reevaluated after January 15, 2022 or as appropriate due to new information or changes in State or CDC requirements.

The first priority of all Boards of Health in the Commonwealth is protecting the health and safety of their citizens during this difficult time and the Board of Health will continue to recommend best practices and protocol around social distancing and gathering guidelines, and appreciates your cooperation in adhering to this guidance.

So Ordered Plympton Board of Health

Bags and totes for homeless women

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Mary Schiess
Express correspondent

For Cindy Murray and her daughter Amy the holidays start in Halifax and extend far beyond. Each year Cindy and Amy identify an organization or cause to share their Christmas spirit. This year a Facebook entry, a volunteer from Marshfield, and extensive news about “Mass and Cass” inspired Christmas project 2021.

Cindy had seen a post about kindness bags collected by a local youth group. These are one gallon plastic bags for the homeless. They may include wet wipes, tooth brushes and toothpaste, small bottles of water, socks, snacks, mittens, tissues, chapsticks, and whatever sundries might be in need by people whose home is the street.

Cindy also saw a Facebook post about Bill Selvitelle of Marshfield. After retirement Bill studied and taught yoga. That lead to an initial request for gently worn winter coats from his students. These he delivered to a Plymouth home for Veterans. Bill’s career took him throughout the Boston area where he developed an acute awareness of the homeless. After spreading the word on social media, Bill began collecting and delivering multiple donations to the needy. When Cindy needed advice for this year’s project, she contacted Bill.

Bill had observed that homeless women never have ladies’ handbags, a defining item for many women. He suggested that collecting handbags might be a good idea. Cindy knew that most women have handbags stored and unused. This year’s project would consist of collecting women’s handbags and filling them with women’s necessities. Bill would deliver the collection to Rosie’s Place.

Cindy established a drop off spot on her porch with a goal of twenty bags. She used the Halifax Facebook page to spread the word. Twenty bags became forty and eventually sixty. Monetary donations paid for Dunkin’ gift cards and supplemented toiletry donations with more from the Dollar Store.

The project reinforced Cindy’s respect for her neighbors and townspeople. She said, “In an age of skepticism, no one questioned.” They simply contributed.

The road to Boston meandered through Bill’s town of Marshfield and on to Boston.

Cindy and Bill both note the importance of adding a personal message to the gifts. Cindy assured that each handbag included Christmas cards or messages.  When delivering packages, Bill emphasizes the need to establish a personal connection with the homeless. He reflects on the meaningfulness of a five minute conversation.

While Cindy praised the cooperation of Halifax residents, Bill’s world is a little wider. He is similarly in awe of the generosity throughout the South Shore. Both of them experienced an emotional moment when discussing the mission.

“This is the first time in a long time I feel like I am making a small difference,” Cindy said. She is already planning a February project, perhaps backpacks for the gentlemen.

Thorne debuts as interim TA

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The Halifax Board of Selectmen met on Tuesday, Dec. 14. The new interim town administrator Edwin Thorne sat with the Selectmen.

Selectmen discussed the proposed agreement with the Lakeville Animal Shelter. They had previously been looking into a possible agreement with Kingston but had not heard back. Selectman Troy Garron said of the agreement with Lakeville, “We’ve had a pretty good relationship.” The Selectmen voted unanimously to enter into an agreement with Lakeville.

Inventory lists, budgets, etc. were requested of all town departments. Thorne said, “As part of looking at a budget, we’re also reviewing the current year’s budget to see what our problem area is and what are areas where we are probably going to need to transfer funds to and from… that will be an ongoing process between now and the May town meeting.”

Thorne also said he was asked to look into the solar farm on the capped landfill. Thorne said there was some email correspondence between former town administrator Charlie Seelig and Seth Pickering of MassDEP. Thorne said he knows Pickering from his days working for Green Communities for Southeastern Massachusetts. Thorne said they discussed plans to possibly own the farm as opposed to entering into a 20-year agreement with the company; he further said this is what was done during his time in Pembroke when they faced a similar predicament. He described the plan in Pembroke as, “a payment in lieu of taxes, a lease… and a net savings over 20 years.”

Thorne also told the Selectmen that he sent an email to the Center for Living and Working regarding the ADA plan. He also addressed the Complete Streets Program which he called, “a great program.” He said those were some of the things that he has been working on in his first few days in office.

Selectmen Chair Gordon Andrews said they had received an email from Joan Pierce, the Southeast Land Agent for the Department of Fish and Game regarding the parcel of land on Aldana Rd. that was part of a larger transaction between the town and the state. Andrews said the transaction was completed. Ownership of the land is necessary to pave the street.

Talent bank forms were submitted by Steve Littlefield and John Sullivan to be appointed to the Traffic Safety Committee. There was some confusion as to whether there were one or two seats available on the Committee. Selectman Ashley DiSesa said she would like to have the candidates come and speak with the Selectmen before officially appointing anyone.

The Selectmen appointed Thorne as the ADA Coordinator for non-school departments. They also voted to give Thorne authority to submit the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) application on behalf of the town.

There was a discussion regarding use of ARPA funds to upgrade the Police Department’s network and related equipment. Chief Joao Chaves joined remotely for this portion of the meeting. The current wireless equipment at the Police Department is over 10 years old and was described as awful. The firewall and network security points are also outdated. Andrews asked how much of the funding was being requested and was told that $30,000 would cover replacing and installing all related equipment.

Andrews asked the Chief to speak to the benefits of doing the upgrade now versus waiting for town meeting. Chaves said it would be more of a burden for taxpayers if funds were acquired through town meeting. DiSesa asked if the Board had access to the breakdown of what ARPA funds have been used versus what was still available. She was told they did not immediately have access to that information. Garron expressed some concern about funding the maintenance of the equipment in the future. The Selectmen voted that overall, they are in favor of using the funds for the purpose but said they first want to see the breakdown of funds used thus far from the town accountant.

There was also a discussion on the rate of pay for the Building Commissioner/Inspector of Buildings Steve Solari. The Selectmen voted to approve a rate of $50 per inspection.

An appointment was held with cannabis dispensary company Elevated Roots to discuss the proposed Host Community Agreement (HCA) with them. Elevated Roots first appeared before the Board in late September to introduce the project to the Selectmen and the community. The community forum was held in early November. “We’re ready to move forward with building and begin construction,” the representative told the Board during Tuesday’s meeting. “The residents and the town officials have the ability to go and evaluate how we are actually operating,” he said of their store in Kingston that has been operational since April. The Selectmen voted unanimously to approve the HCA.

Andrews told those assembled, “We did lose a retired employee this week – Cathy Drinan – a long time Board of Health agent.” DiSesa said, “She put a lot of work into the town.” Drinan was the long-time Docent Art Program Director for the Halifax Elementary School. “She was a very nice person; she worked really hard for our community; she will definitely be missed,” Andrews said.

Amy L. Troup appeared before the Board on behalf of the Beautification Committee. She requested that a donate button be added to the Facebook page. Andrews said it would be a question for the Treasurer/Collector’s office. Troup also said that they were interested in running a vendor fair in the spring, potentially in the gym at Halifax Elementary School. Andrews recommended coordinating with Youth and Rec to find out what days they are not using the gym.

Boys Hockey beats Quincy

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The game could have gone either way, but the Silver Lake High boys’ hockey team shined when it mattered most.

The Lakers were tied with the Quincy High Presidents after three periods of play in their opening game of the season. However, the Lakers struck first in overtime and won the game 5-4. It took place on Wednesday, Dec. 15 on the road at the Quincy Youth Arena.

Patrick Murphy gave the Lakers what they needed in overtime, scoring the game-winning goal. It was his first career varsity goal – and it was the one that put his team over the top.

Other Lakers who scored goals in the win include: JD Henley, Sam Dilley, Mark Kelleher, and Brett Evans. Meanwhile, Aiden Dunphy had two assists.

A few days later, the Lakers had their first loss of the season. The Lakers faced the Marshfield Rams at Hobomock Ice Arena on Saturday, Dec. 18; the Rams beat them 9-1.

The Lakers are back to playing a normal season this year, if all goes well. The expectation is that there will be a statewide MIAA tournament after the regular season. And unlike last season, teams are playing some out-of-league games once again.

The Lakers next game will take place after Christmas. They are scheduled to play the Whitman-Hanson Panthers on Monday, Dec. 27 at Rockland Arena; the start time was to be determined..

Masks at school are hot topic

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The Halifax Elementary School Committee met in-person on Dec. 6 at the Town Hall. It began with a school attorney providing guidelines for future school committee meetings including that masks would not be required as they would be held at Town Hall instead of a school building. A vote was taken, and the protocols were adopted by the Committee.

The meeting, which was well attended, was open for public participation. A resident said she was having difficulty accessing the meeting times and agendas. Committee Chair Summer Schmaling said that due to the open meeting law, agendas are posted 48 hours prior to the meetings. She pointed out that the meetings are also available on the district website via the calendar.

Another resident who said she is a parent of a student at Halifax Elementary spoke saying she gathered from the agenda that the Committee would be requesting of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) that they give authority to local governing bodies to determine what is best for their schools as it pertains to COVID-19. She addressed the Committee with a number of questions that began “What makes you as a Committee think…” She questioned why they would believe that Halifax should have different mandates than the rest of the state as well as why it would be a good time to lift the mask mandate while cases of COVID-19 are on the rise. She asked rhetorically if they conferred with the school nurse, staff and administrators, and parents before deciding to take a vote regarding COVID-19 restrictions.

The Halifax Teachers’ Association made a statement. Elizabeth Antoine spoke on behalf of the HTA saying, “First and foremost we are here to express our goal in building a successful and respectful partnership between the Halifax Teachers’ Association and the Halifax School Committee…as the HTA we would like to address the public comments made at the Selectmen’s meeting.” At this point, Schmaling interjected and said that if they wanted to address comments from the Selectmen’s meeting, they would need to be placed on a Selectmen’s agenda and attend one of their meetings. A member of the audience asked if the comments were regarding the School Committee and Schmaling told her that it was irrelevant if it happened during the Selectmen’s meeting. Much later in the meeting another resident tried to address Antoine’s statement being cut short but was told simply, “moving on” by Schmaling.

Schmaling addressed the letter that she wrote to be sent to the Massachusetts Association of School Committees. She said she would also like to see the letter be sent to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Commissioner, Governor Charlie Baker, Senator Michael Brady, and Representative Kathy LaNatra. Schmaling said that the letter was in response to a lack of a response from a letter sent in September seeking information regarding COVID protocols. Schmaling said that the letter was public record and anyone could have access to it at any time.

Committee member Lauren Laws said, “I do agree that some of the information in the letter needs to be clarified but I think some of the reasoning as to why is a little bit not transparent… I agree with a lot of the points of what’s the endgame – how do we get back to more normalcy?” She continued, “At this point with cases rising, I mean, I feel like keeping our kids in school is a top priority and so far there are studies that show that masking works.” Laws further said that she didn’t believe any questions regarding masking or not masking should be kept in the letter. “Let’s not appear to be on one side of the mask issue,” Laws said. Schmaling asked for edits and Laws provided what she would like to see removed from the letter. Schmaling and Laws have notoriously been on opposing sides of the masking debate with Schamling adamantly against mandates and Laws in favor of them. Laws said she didn’t believe the letter should be sent without input from the community. “Take a look at this room and see how many people are masked and I think you might see how our community feels about it,” Laws said. She later stressed that she felt it important to survey the school population and the town regarding the issue.

Schmaling asked for a motion to send the letter to the aforementioned parties. The Committee agreed to send the letter and moved onto a discussion of what that letter should entail. Gordon Andrews, who is not only a school committee member but also a Halifax Selectman, said he felt that he needed more time to think over the contents of the letter and that he would potentially like to see the Committee make a public records request as a public body to gather the information used by DESE to make their decisions. Attorney Dupre spoke up and said that to his knowledge, DESE has not been responding to any school committees that have reached out with questions. Dupre suggested asking the Mass Association of School Committees to request those kinds of records from DESE.

Andrews said, “If we were going to send a letter requesting all the information, I would also be requesting what are they going to do to increase access to all the students who are behind developmentally for the summer and following years… I think if we’re going to send another letter it should be detailed – these are the things that are important to Halifax.” Andrews alluded to masking causing developmental issues and asked what the MASC will do to combat those issues. Laws countered that everything cannot be blamed on the masks as there were other significant factors related to the pandemic that have caused delays, etc. “I think we kind of need to take a bigger picture approach…I feel like there is a lot more to this letter than when are we getting masks off,” she said. Schmaling asked for edits to be sent to her. The Committee voted to table the letter until more details could be gathered.

Schmaling took a moment to acknowledge the retirements of Halifax Elementary School grade 3 teacher Matthew Kaetzer and grade four teacher Robert Dray as well as school attorney Fred Dupre. The Committee members had a multitude of kind things to say about all the retirees.

An update was given on the PTO. A mingle and jingle event was held in lieu of breakfast with Santa. The event included pictures with Santa and a raffle. Youth and Rec also provided a brief update. The basketball program is utilizing the gym 7 days a week. Stem, Game Club, and Art Club are still currently on hold due to COVID.

Principal Kayne Beaudry provided an update. He said that after school programs were all booming and filled to the max when COVID hit. He said they are working toward getting those programs back up and running. He said that a successful lockdown and evacuation drill was run at the school. The turkey trot and food drive was successful despite the chilly temperatures. He said that over 2,000 donations went to the Halifax food pantry as well as over $13,000 in turkey gift cards. Beaudry also said that $13,000 were raised during the PTO book fair. Holiday vacation will begin on December 24 with everyone returning on January 3.

Assistant Superintendent Ryan Lynch gave an update on curriculum updates. He said that they have been focusing on how to make progress on their social and emotional learning goal. He said that a student survey on the issue was implemented and nearly 90 percent of Halifax students completed it. It assessed a number of social and emotional areas. He said that teachers will be trained on how to assess the results.

Lynch also provided an update on the three rounds of ESSER funding which is intended to aid in areas affected by the pandemic. He said that the Halifax allocation for ESSER II was about $106,000. Lynch said that the ESSER III funding for Halifax has been submitted but they have yet to receive the confirmation regarding the $225,000 allocated there. Lynch said that a minimum of $10,000 of the ESSER II funding must be spent on social and emotional learning. Schmaling asked what they had planned for ESSER III. He said they just spent money on some assessment programs to identify needs in reading and math as well as English learners. He said that working to make progress toward student supports in social and emotional learning would be high on the priority list as well.

Superintendent Jill Proulx provided a district update. She said that she and other administrators had met with Beaudry to prepare for the budget presentation for January. She went over some enrollment data including homeschool enrollment for K-6. It has gone down in Halifax from 16 students to 15 students for fiscal year 2021-2022. For grades 7-12, across the towns, homeschool has risen by 7 students. Halifax total enrollment has decreased by 5 students at the elementary level and 16 students at the secondary level.

Proulx said the social and emotional learning taskforce will be expanded to include all grades k-12. Included in that is an anti-bullying curriculum. She said it will be expanded to the middle and high schools to ensure a common language within the schools surrounding social and emotional learning. She said that inclusion standards are being implemented to ensure that those on IEPs are not in a substantially separate program unless absolutely necessary. “When we pull students out of the classroom, we tend to find that the gap grows,” Proulx said.

Proulx also talked about growth mindset. She said, “Our expectations, our beliefs in our children and the children’s belief in their own ability to persevere have a profound impact on whether or not they will persevere and have the tenacity and grit to succeed.” She went on to say that we should have troubles and be able to say, “I’m not good at that yet” as opposed to just “I’m not good at that.”

Proulx also addressed the posting of vaccination rates for staff and students. Schmaling said her initial reaction was that she would not want that to happen but said that she wanted to open it up to the Committee as a whole. “The vaccination rates are already public,” Laws said. “I figure since it is public information, why not make it accessible,” she continued. Schmaling said, “I didn’t think it was an appropriate place for it to be on the school website.” Laws suggested possibly a link to where it could be found. Schmaling asked why do it for COVID vaccination status when it isn’t done for other vaccinations. Most of the Committee seemed against publishing the rates on the school website.

The Committee also reviewed and discussed the test and stay program. Proulx said that the test and stay program is intended to allow close contacts to stay in school as long as they remain asymptomatic and receive a negative rapid test each day. They must also monitor for the development of any symptoms. Close contacts exempt from quarantining or test and stay are those on buses, those who have previously been diagnosed with COVID in the last 90 days and are recovered and without COVID symptoms, and those exposed in the classroom while wearing a mask and spaced at least 3 feet apart. Schmaling said that she has been asked if one sibling is awaiting a COVID test, should the other stay home. She said that no, they should not. Additionally, Schmaling mentioned that the test and stay program is intended only for those who were exposed in school. Beaudry said the nurse notifies close contacts that were within six feet but only those within 3 feet qualify for test and stay. It was also mentioned that children who qualify for test and stay are allowed to take the bus.

Schmaling said she has been asked what constitutes an outbreak. She said the nurse said that 20 percent of the student body being out sick with an illness would qualify as an outbreak. Proulx said that thus far there has been no evidence of classroom spread.