BETHEL — The SAD 44 Board of Directors voted to continue masking in all district schools until Jan. 17, when the board will discuss the topic again.

The board passed the motion to continue masking by a vote of 6 to 5. Directors voting against the move were Wendy Coffin, Danny Whitney, Stephanie Erickson, Tammy Goodwin, and Amy Henley.

According to the board the state will not be requiring any pooled testing for the next two weeks, but that will not affect SAD 44 students or staff because they will be on winter break.

In the annual U.S. News and World Reports school rankings, Woodstock Elementary School ranked 29 out of 229 Maine elementary schools, with 55% of students scoring at or above the proficient level for math, and 65% scoring at or above that level for reading. Crescent Park Elementary was listed 43th, where 42% of students scored at or above the proficient level for math, and 67% scored at or above that level for reading. Telstar Middle School was listed 21st of all Maine middle schools. According to U.S. News and World Report, 42% of middle school students scored at or above the proficient level for math, and 62% scored at or above that level for reading.

For more detailed information about district rankings, go to: www.usnews.com

The board approved the district dress code as is.

The board agreed that remote meetings will be allowed only if there is a true emergency that prevents in-person meetings, and that in order to call for a remote meeting the superintendent and board chair would have to agree to do that. If not, board meetings will be held in person.