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The COVID-19 Edition for Friday, July 17, 2020

To view this edition of Impact online, click here.

 

 

Welcome to your COVID-19 Impact newsletter!

As a valued member of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, we plan to stay in touch with you several times each week through emails like this one and on Facebook and Twitter, until the pandemic passes. We intend to provide you with the latest state and federal information, as well as highlighting the creativity and innovation that is occuring here in Maine during this unpredictable and rapidly changing time. To assist you in navigating the uncertainties ahead, we have created a diverse and comprehensive collection of web-based resources to help you take care of yourself and your family, your employees, your business, and your community.

Do you have a question? ASK THE EXPERTS.

We are here to help in any way we can!

 

 

Governor Janet Mills made the following announcements this afternoon.
We are sharing these breaking news items to keep you informed.

 

To Protect Health of Students & Staff, Mills Administration Provides Public Health Guidance & Financial Support to School Systems Across Maine

Governor Janet Mills announced today a series of steps her Administration is taking to assist and support school systems across Maine as they consider whether and how to return to in-classroom instruction this fall. Each of these actions aims to provide essential support to promote a safe return for children, teachers, and school staff.

 

To that end, the Governor announced today that the Maine Department of Education, in close partnership with the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC), has updated its "Framework for Returning to Classroom Instruction" to include health and safety precautions that all schools must follow if they decide to return to in-classroom instruction to ensure the safety and well-being of students and staff. The Governor also announced that these science-based protocols, which follow national best practices and include the use of face coverings and physical distancing, will be financially supported by up to $165 million in Federal CARES Act funding that she has authorized to be distributed to school systems across Maine.

 

Further, Governor Mills also announced that her Administration will provide school superintendents and school boards with public health guidance in the form of a three-tiered health advisory system to assist them in making decisions about whether and how to bring students back to the classroom. This new tiered system, developed by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Maine CDC, will take into account public health metrics on a county by county basis and translate them into three, regularly updated color-based categorizations.

 

These developments come after an announcement by the Mills Administration earlier today that the Governor is providing $8.4 million in additional CARES Act funding to childcare providers to offset the higher cost of caring for children due to COVID-19.

 

"Like many parents and teachers, I am concerned about the children who are being left behind and the inequities that have been exacerbated by this pandemic. For the sake of Maine children, their futures, and the livelihoods of Maine families, returning to classroom instruction when it is safe to do so must be our shared goal," said Governor Mills. "But that goal cannot be achieved at the expense of peoples' health and safety, regardless of what the Trump Administration says. I want students, parents, teachers, and school staff to feel safe and confident in returning to school. That is why my Administration will provide public health guidance and financial support to assist local officials as they determine what is best for their communities, their students, and their staff. The actions we are taking today are a step in that direction."

 

"School leaders have been tasked with developing multiple plans for instruction, implementing new protocols, and making extraordinarily difficult decisions in order to provide for both the education and safety of our students and ensure the health and well-being of the entire school community," said Pender Makin, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Education. "The importance of our public education system has never been more evident, as we work to keep our people, our economy and our future healthy, and I am honored to work alongside my dedicated colleagues in education."

 

"The health of Maine's schools is vital to the health of our state as a whole," said Jeanne Lambrew, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. "We are committed to providing public health guidance and information to promote the health and safety of students, teachers, and school staff as Maine people continue their commendable response to COVID-19."

 

"We will follow the best available science to support our colleagues at the Maine Department of Education and local school districts as they take steps to educate Maine students safely and effectively," said Dr. Nirav D. Shah, Director of the Maine CDC. "Science has guided our planning and response to the pandemic, and it will continue to do so as Maine prepares for a new school year."

 

Updated Framework for Return to Classroom Instruction:

The Maine Department of Education has published a "Framework for Returning to Classroom Instruction (PDF)" that is intended to provide non-mandatory guidance to school systems as they each consider whether and how to return to in-classroom instruction this fall. The framework, which is subject to revision amid emerging evidence about the pandemic, is divided into five sections that provide a variety of considerations for school systems.  Importantly, the Framework encourages school systems to be prepared for three scenarios: 1) a return to in-classroom instruction for all students when the risk of COVID-19 is low and schools have adequate capacity to implement health and safety requirements; 2) a hybrid instruction plan that involves a combination of in-classroom and remote instruction plans when the risk of COVID-19 is elevated; and 3) a fully remote instruction plan when the risk of COVID-19 is high. Earlier this year, the Mills Administration secured internet access and devices to facilitate at home learning for 100 percent of Maine school children for whom there was a reported need and continues to address additional connectivity needs as they are identified by school leaders.

 

Today, the Maine Department of Education updated this Framework to include a series of health and safety precautions that all schools must follow to protect the safety and well-being of staff, students, and their families if they decide to return to in-classroom instruction. These protocols were developed by public health experts and include:

1.    Symptom screenings before coming to schools

2.    Physical distancing within school facilities

3.    Wearing face coverings

4.    Practicing proper hand hygiene

5.    Wearing personal protective equipment when in close proximity to students

6.    Remaining isolated at home if sick until meeting criteria to return to school

 

Additional guidance is available to help School Administrative Units (SAUs) implement these health and safety measures: https://www.maine.gov/doe/framework

 

Financial Support Through the CARES Act:

Recognizing that school systems face unprecedented, unbudgeted costs that are too great for communities to bear alone, Governor Mills has authorized $165 million in Federal CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) monies to be distributed to SAUs across Maine. This funding will support school systems as they implement new health and safety protocols to protect students, staff, and their families.

 

The funds will be distributed based on an equitable, weighted formula that the Maine Department of Education has developed in collaboration with School Superintendents from across Maine. Next week, the Maine Department of Education will inform each SAU of its maximum allocation according to the formula. SAUs will then complete an application describing how the funds will be spent in order to remain within the constraints Congress has placed on the use of CRF monies. Once the applications are approved, SAUs can begin submitting receipts for reimbursement of approved expenditures.

 

The Maine Department of Education has identified $328 million in need to help school systems across Maine. The Mills Administration views the funding dedicated today as an important initial investment to help schools prepare for in-classroom instruction but recognizes that more funding is necessary for ongoing operations. The Administration is hopeful that Congress will provide greater aid to Maine school systems in the coming weeks and months.

 

School Health Advisory System:

To support and inform local SAU decisions about whether and how to bring students back into the classroom, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services and the Maine CDC have developed a three-tiered health advisory system.

 

This new tiered system, which will be based on a holistic assessment of quantitative and qualitative information that includes but is not limited to recent data on case rates, positivity rates, and syndromic data, will break down into three-color based categorizations by county: red, yellow, and green.

* Categorization as "red" suggests that the county has a high risk of COVID-19 spread and that in-person instruction should not be conducted.

* Categorization as "yellow" suggests that that the county has an elevated risk of COVID-19 spread and that hybrid instruction models should be adopted.

* Categorization as "green" suggests that the county has a relatively low COVID-19 risk and that in-person instruction can be adopted, although an SAU may opt for hybrid instruction if its buildings or readiness make adhering to baseline requirements a challenge.

 

These recommendations are intended to be advisory in nature and pertain only to the unique circumstances of schools. Given the large and varied nature of counties in Maine, SAUs within a county or spread across multiple counties may adopt a reopening policy that differs from this county-based categorization of COVID-19 risk. Maine DHHS and Maine CDC will not review SAU-specific plans.

 

The health advisory system will be posted on the Department of Education website beginning July 31st and updated on a biweekly basis, which allows for sufficient time to capture trends. The Administration has briefed the Chairs and Leads of the Legislature's Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs and the Education Committee on the use of the CRF monies.

 

Mills Administration Supports Child Care for Working Families with $8 Million Investment from Coronavirus Relief Fund

In combination with other federal funds, Maine's support for providers meets Bipartisan Policy Center recommendation for recovery

The Mills Administration announced today that it will invest more than $8 million from the federal Coronavirus Relief Fund to further boost access to child care and support Maine's working families in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will provide an additional $8.4 million to more than 1,700 Maine child care providers for the extra costs and challenges of operating during the pandemic.

 

"Maine's working families are weathering the challenges posed by this pandemic while our child care providers have kept their children healthy and safe," said Governor Mills. "This investment will further support them and our economy as we approach the fall. But Congress must do more to help child care providers recover and ensure that families have access to quality, affordable care."

 

"Over 80 percent of Maine's child care providers are open, a testament to their commitment to health and safety precautions in partnership with the families they serve," said DHHS Commissioner Jeanne Lambrew.  "This funding will further support relief, recovery, and accommodation of additional children, although funding from Congress for sustainability and stability is needed."

 

Through the funding announced today, center-based providers will each receive up to $9,200 and family-based providers will each receive up to $950 to cover COVID-related expenses.

 

At the same time, the Department will award the remaining $2.8 million from the previously announced $11 million in CARES Act funding for Maine, focusing on child care providers that are open and providing care by September 8, 2020. Child care centers will receive an additional $2,800 in aid and family-based providers will receive an additional $550, with grants issued in August.

 

Taken together, the child care reimbursement announced today from the Coronavirus Relief Fund and the CARES Act grants meet the Bipartisan Policy Center's recommended amount needed for child care providers to remain open or reopen in the face of the pandemic. In a letter to Congress, the Bipartisan Policy Center calculated that providers would need up to $12,000 (centers) and $1,500 (family-based) to re-open and make needed adjustments for health and safety precautions.

 

"Child care is an essential service for Maine's working parents and a cornerstone of the economy," said Linda Smith, Director, Early Childhood Initiative at the Bipartisan Policy Center. "The Bipartisan Policy Center applauds these re-opening funds to child care providers which will help ensure parents have access to reliable, safe, and quality child care during these challenging times. The risk of permanent closure is too great. This support demonstrates Maine's commitment to help both family child care and center-based programs survive while supporting families returning to the workforce."

 

Still, child care providers face new operating costs due to the pandemic that will persist beyond reopening for increased staff, personal protective equipment, facility modifications for safety, and cleaning. Governor Mills' Economic Recovery Committee recommended $45 million for child care and after school programing in the fall. Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey recently signed on to a letter to Congress supporting up to $50 billion in child care assistance.

 

As of today, over 80 percent of Maine's approximately 1,700 licensed child care providers are open, up from about 50 percent in April. This reflects, in part, robust support from the DHHS Office of Child and Family Services. The Office has awarded the bulk of the previously announced $11 million in CARES Act funding, available through the Child Care and Development Block Grant, providing a one-time stipend to all licensed child care providers in April, subsidy support for essential workers through June 30, 2020; and grants to resume operations by June 30, 2020.

 

Recognizing the ongoing needs of the public while prioritizing children's safety, it has permitted child care providers to remain open throughout the State of Civil Emergency to serve Maine families, including parents who are essential to Maine's response to the pandemic. It has distributed updated guidance (PDF) to promote the health and safety of children, families, child care providers, and their communities. The Office has also worked with child care partners to match (PDF) working parents with providers who remain open.

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you for
doing your part!

 

 

To advertise in the COVID-19 Impact, please contact Melody Rousseau
by emailing
melodyr@mainechamber.org, or by calling (207) 623-4568, ext. 102.

 

 

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 128 State Street | Suite 101 | Augusta, ME 04330-5630
 Phone: (207) 623-4568
For media inquiries, please contact Jen Webber, (207) 939-0213
For membership inquiries, please contact Mark Ellis. (207) 623-4568
  • About Us
    • Connect with Us
    • Affiliates & Partners
    • Our Board
    • Meet the Team
    • President's Message
    • External Social Media Policy
  • Membership
    • Benefits of Membership
    • Join the Chamber
    • Return on Investment
    • Member Search
  • Public Policy
    • Public Hearings of Interest
    • Legislation of Interest
    • Public Policy Committees
    • Grassroot Resources
    • Find Your Legislator >
      • Representatives
      • Senators
  • Events
    • Calendar of Events
    • 2022 Annual Meeting
    • Sponsorship Opportunities
    • Business Day at the Statehouse
    • Board Meetings & Board Events
    • DC Fly-In
    • Legislative Social
    • Policy Issues Workshops
    • Regional Breakfasts
    • Scramble for Scholars
    • Webinars by The Maine State Chamber of Commerce
  • Initiatives
    • Campus Career Connect
    • Dream It. Do It.
    • Education Foundation
    • Keep Maine Competitive
    • Maine Economic Research Institute (MERI)
    • This is ME Counting on You
    • Senior Leaders of Tomorrow Development Program
  • Newsroom
    • COVID-19 Resources
    • Impact Newsletter
    • MSCC Blog
    • The Bottom Line
    • The Maine Take
    • Making Maine Work
    • MERI Roll Call
    • OneVoice Maine Magazine
    • Policy Brief Series with Educate Maine
    • Press Kit
  • Member Login