MAVA Shares DESE’s Updated Guidance for Culinary and Cosmetology Services

MASSACHUSETTS — Executive Director Kevin Farr reports the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has updated its guidance for culinary and cosmetology programs as schools statewide continue to plan for a transition to fully in-person learning. 

The department shared its initial reopening guidance for Career and Technical Education schools in July 2020, and updated its guidance on Thursday, April 1. 

“By reopening school operated restaurants and salons, students in these programs once again have the opportunity to practice not only the skills they’ve learned in their industry, but they also get the chance to practice employable skills like service and professionalism. Those are extremely valuable learning moments for young people,” Executive Director Farr said. “We’re pleased that DESE has shared this guidance to support programs prepared to safely begin serving the public again.”

The latest updates to the state’s guidance include:

• Culinary programs can commence serving the public, fellow students and staff as long as they are following state guidelines for restaurants and DESE’s reopening guidance. Masks will be required unless one is eating. 
  • Culinary programs are also encouraged to continue offering online ordering services for curbside pick-up.
  • Disinfecting stations must be available at the front and back of the dining operation.
• Cosmetology programs can commence serving the public, as well as classmates and staff, as long as they comply with the state’s standards for close contact personal services and DESE’s reopening guidance. Services must be limited, however. Haircuts and other services are only allowable as long as people will not be face-to-face for extended time periods.
  • Students must follow industry standards including wearing masks, gloves, gowns or smocks, and prescription glasses, safety glasses or goggles. Patrons will also be required to wear masks.

Multiple members of MAVA participated in the statewide committee to provide their input to DESE as the guidance was crafted. The names and titles of those individuals have been bolded in the full list of committee members below:

• Tom Belland, Vocational Director, Blackstone Valley Technical High School
• Barbara Jean Chauvin, Vocational Director, Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School
• Kathleen Duff, Vocational Director, Newton North High School
• Jon Evans, Superintendent, Keefe Technical High School
• Christopher Faucher, Assistant Vocational Director, Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School
• Joshua Greely, Vocational Director, Upper Cape Cod Technical High School
• Thomas Hickey, Superintendent, South Shore Regional Vocational Technical High School
• James Hachey, Vocational Director, Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical High School
• Andrew Linkenhoker, Superintendent, Smith Regional and Agricultural High School
• Karen Maguire, Vocational Director, Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School
• Tony McIntosh, Vocational Director, Keefe Technical High School
• Denise Pigeon, Superintendent, Nashoba Valley Technical High School
• Cathie Rebelo, Vocational Director, Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School
• Heidi Riccio, Superintendent, Essex North Shore Agricultural Technical High School
• Jill Sawyer, Vocational Director, Essex North Shore Agricultural Technical High School
• Jeff Scheminger, Vocational Director, Nashoba Valley Technical High School
• William Terranova, Principal, Cape Cod Technical High School
• Mark Wood, Principal, Tantasqua Regional Vocational Technical High School
• Kevin Farr, Executive Director, Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators
• Peter Dewar, Assistant Executive Director, Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators
• Elizabeth L. Bennett, Associate Commissioner of College, Career, and Technical Education, DESE
• Judith L. Klimkiewicz, Special Assistant to the Commissioner, DESE
• David Edmonds, Office of College, Career and Technical Education, DESE
• Jennifer Appleyard, Office of College, Career and Technical Education, DESE

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