Cape superintendent recommends mask-optional policy as of March 1

After Gov. John Carney announced Feb. 28 that the mask mandate in Delaware schools, on school buses and in child care facilities will expire at 6 p.m., Tuesday, March 1, the Cape school board is set to have a special meeting at 5 p.m., Feb. 28, after the Cape Gazette’s press deadline, to vote on Superintendent Bob Fulton’s recommendation.

“With the ending of the state’s masking requirement for schools, I am making the recommendation that beginning Tuesday, March 1, at 6 p.m., masks be optional for day-to-day operations for staff, pre-K-12 students, and visitors in the Cape Henlopen School District,” Fulton said Feb. 28.

“Federal guidelines no longer require masks be worn on school buses, therefore my mask-optional recommendation also applies to our school transportation services,” Fulton said. “This recommendation is based on COVID trends over the past several weeks in our schools and school community, and takes into account multiple data points and trends, including vaccination rates and new cases in our schools and community.”

Vaccine or testing requirements for educators and state employees will expire at 11:59 p.m., Monday, Feb. 28, Carney stated.

“There are a lot of reasons to be optimistic about where we’re headed,” Carney said. “Over the last month, COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations have fallen dramatically, and we are clearly moving into a new phase of this pandemic. Today’s announcement is consistent with new guidance from the CDC. And it’s consistent with the latest thinking from Delaware’s experts at the Division of Public Health. Delawareans who want to continue wearing a mask – including children in our schools – should be supported and encouraged to do so, even as we move into this new phase. We’ll also continue to encourage all eligible Delawareans to get up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations.” 

The Cape district is in the process of updating quarantine guidelines, contact tracing, and the test-to-stay program, which will be shared later this week, Fulton said. 

The lifting of the mandate comes a month earlier than previously planned; on Feb. 8, Carney had initially announced the mask mandate would expire at the end of the day Thursday, March 31. At the Feb. 24 Cape Henlopen school board meeting, Fulton had planned to recommend the board vote to adopt a mask-optional policy at its March 10 meeting. 

Coach, student speak against coach’s dismissal 

During public comment at the Feb. 24 school board meeting, a football player and coach spoke highly of former Cape High head football coach JD Maull, whose contract the board voted against renewing at its Feb. 14 meeting. 

Cape High junior L.T. Messick said he spent three years of his life playing for a very special coach, and he did not like that Maull would not be head coach his senior year. Maull has helped him with his career and college aspirations, and everything going on in his life, L.T. said.

“He's done a lot for me and the community; he's put a lot of kids in college,” L.T. said. “He was always there for me and my family. He was always there for my friends and teammates. He’s a great head coach beyond the record of the football season, and I would like to thank him for everything he has done.”

Cape High assistant football coach Ken Hardy said he worked under four different head coaches in 14 years, including Bill Collick, who directed the faltering program into the right direction. After Collick retired, Hardy said, he was asked to remain on staff under new coach JD Maull.

“The last four years, coach Maull has, not only in my opinion, but many others, taken the program to a higher level, and it was a long journey,” Hardy said. “During this time, we had more college coaches call about players, and players went to college showcases, just to name a few things we accomplished.”

COVID didn't help the situation, Hardy said, but the team put fans in the stands for every home game. The team’s win-loss record wasn’t the best, Hardy said, but he asked the board to look beyond that.

“The main goal is, yes, to have a winning season, but more importantly, it’s to mold and shape young men,” Hardy said. “Help them find their way, help them grow and be productive members in not only the community where they live, but society and our country as a whole.” 

Maull’s players have gone on to college, the workforce and the military, Hardy said.

“They’ve moved from boys to young men, and we have coach Maull to thank for that,” Hardy said. “I know you've made your decision, and all I ask is for you to rethink that decision on what is best for the school and the program as a whole.”