Today, Governor Hochul announced that the indoor mask mandate for businesses will end tomorrow, however masks will still be required in certain settings, including schools. Therefore, the indoor mask policy remains in place at this time and it applies to all staff, students, and visitors in our schools.
The Governor also indicated that test kits will be sent to students before the winter break (for use prior to returning to school on Monday, February 28th).
In early March, the state will make an assessment on mask protocols in schools based on the latest metrics. This includes cases per 100K, percent positivity, hospital admissions, pediatric hospitalizations, vaccinations, and global trends.
The state is currently drafting proposed guidelines (if the school mask mandate were to end) based on feedback from state education groups.
Earlier this week, school superintendents throughout our BOCES region sent a letter to New York State Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett advocating for the DOH to work with our school districts to chart a clear path forward. The full letter can be viewed here.
We will keep you updated as new information is released. Your understanding and partnership are greatly appreciated as this situation continues to unfold.