February 18, 2022
Dear Members of the St. Martin’s Community,
Thanks to all of you for your continued vigilance in keeping our school a safe and healthy environment where our faculty and staff work to keep your children happy, engaged, and resilient in mind, body, and spirit.
The SMES Board of Trustees understands and appreciates the desire on the part of many in our community to follow the path taken by the Anne Arundel County Public Schools and some area private schools to relax masking requirements for students, faculty, staff, and visitors in school buildings.
As a parish school in the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland, we must follow the guidelines provided by the diocesan leadership. That guidance has contributed to our maintaining our doors open and joyfully serving the educational needs of your children through a challenging year which has seen COVID rates fall and rise several times.
The current guidance from the diocese is very clear and thoughtful. We have to meet two requirements to move to optional masking:
- The Maryland State Board of Education lifts its requirement, and
- The average daily case rate remains below 7 per 100,000 residents in Anne Arundel County for two weeks (based on the Maryland State Department of Health COVID dashboard). This is based on the CDC's classification of "low to moderate risk."
If current trends continue, I would expect we will satisfy these conditions early next month. The Rector and Vestry have contacted the diocese to clarify the process for seeking an accelerated timeline.
One of the great tenets of Episcopal education is that we value life in common, believing it is strengthened by honest and respectful dialogue across lines of disagreement and difference. I expect that many of you will feel that we are moving too slowly to remove masks, and many will feel the need to proceed with an abundance of caution. Let us continue to be respectful of one anothers opinions on the subject as we follow the path set for us.
We will keep you informed of any changes moving forward, and pledge to give you ample notice to discuss any impending changes with your children before they are implemented.
Faithfully yours,
