The state says the new county executive has no authority to override its orders.
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Nassau County, New York — New Nassau County Executive Director Bruce Blackman signed three executive orders today related to the county's handling of the coronavirus. They will, among other things, allow school districts to terminate mask mandates if they so choose.
Blackman signed the orders Thursday morning on the steps of the Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building to cheers from supporters. The more comprehensive executive orders he signed would allow school districts to end a state's mask mandate, if that district's board of education votes to do so. Blackman said it would give counties the right to end the mask mandate under the authority of the county's local government.
"Our county is bigger than nine states, and we don't need to tell people in Albany what to do in Nassau County," Blackman said.
However, the New York State Department of Education said Blackman does not have the authority to override the mask mandates.
"Districts do not have the legal authority to compel education boards to vote on specific issues," State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa said in a statement. "School officers take an oath to obey all legal requirements. The state Department of Education expects school boards to follow all legal requirements, including the face covering regulation."
Other executive orders that Blakeman has signed are less controversial: one will reopen the county vaccination site at Nassau Community College to distribute vaccines and boosters to the people who want them, and another will provide KN-95 masks to teachers at no cost to schools. He also signed an executive order removing the mask mandate for county employees. County workers can still wear masks, but they will not be required to do so when they are outside or indoors.
This latest wave of the coronavirus is still spreading across Long Island. Some schools went to distance learning this week because a lot of staff and students were in isolation to open school buildings.
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