The nation's top education leader
was back in his home state of Connecticut Friday to tour several schools in
Waterbury.
U.S. Education Secretary Dr. Miguel
Cardona took questions outside the Dual Language International School after
touring it with Gov. Ned Lamont and Rep. Jahana Hayes.
Cardona praised Gov. Ned Lamont for
making "hard decisions" including
requiring masks for kids and vaccines for staff.
"We're not
seeing the closure of schools here in Connecticut that we're seeing in other
places, because it's not optional," he says.
Cardona is taking on governors in
the South, where some states are banning mask mandates even when local schools
want them.
In Florida, Gov.
Ron DeSantis threatened to stop paying local school leaders if they require
masks. Cardona fired back, offering federal money to pay their salaries.
He's also
investigating five other states that have banned masks for possible civil rights
violations.
"I really
wouldn't characterize it as a battle. We're on the same team. I've reached out
to Gov. DeSantis. I've spoken to Gov. Abbott, and I'll continue to work with
governors across the country," he says.
But the issue has
flared up in Connecticut too. Last week, mask protesters got in the governor's
face - abruptly ending a back-to-school event.
Waterbury's
superintendent admits masks aren't popular, but says she hasn't gotten much
resistance even to the vaccine requirement.
"I believe
that the teachers union was quite pleased that it became a requirement because
that way it wasn't just an arbitrary decision that was made," says
Waterbury School superintendent Dr. Verna Ruffin.
She says the
district is working on a process for staff who want to opt-out of vaccines.
The deadline to get at least one
vaccine dose is Sept. 27. If they get a waiver, they'll
have to get tested once a week.