Pittman blasts ‘misleading’ text sent to Anne Arundel County families about school masks – CBS Baltimore

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman issued a statement Thursday criticizing a bulk text sent to parents that he said contained “disinformation about the status of masks” in public schools.

The county government said the text message was sent to a “number of families” across the county on Tuesday night. “The message intentionally contained inaccurate and misleading information aimed at confusing parents and students,” he said.

CONTINUE READING: Johns Hopkins’ Bloomberg School shortens back-to-school dates in response to record heat

Pittman’s statement came the day after Superintendent George Arlotto submitted a recommendation to the Board of Education to require students and staff to mask and test at home if their school has a COVID-19 transmission rate of 5% or more.

The Superintendent’s recommendation, made by Anne Arundel County Health Officer Dr. Nilesh is supported Kalyanaraman aims to keep more children in schools. It comes after the county saw 11 outbreaks in schools over the past week.

CONTINUE READING: Maryland weather: heat is here, warning day tomorrow for record heat

The recommendation met with opposition from parents, about two dozen of whom turned out to protest the proposed policy change.

Anne Arundel County Public Schools became the first school district in the state to lift its mask mandate in February as COVID-19 cases dropped.

In Thursday’s statement, Pittman noted that while the health officer and others can make recommendations to the school board, it is ultimately up to the board to decide whether masks or other safety measures are required.

MORE NEWS: Maryland Weather: Summer heat sets in for the weekend

“Our students and educators have spent the past two years under tremendous stress, responding time and time again with grace and perseverance,” said Pittman. “To those who sent this message to our families – this type of disinformation has no place in our community. Shame on you.”