Ellington School Officials Object To Athletic Mask Policy

ELLINGTON, CT — Ellington school officials have expressed objections to Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) guidelines, supported by the state Department of Public Health (DPH), concerning the mandatory wearing of masks during practices and games by non-vaccinated high school athletes. The Ellington Board of Education maintains the policy, effective Dec. 24, "has the potential to publicly stigmatize students based upon their medical status - vaccinated or unvaccinated."

On Nov. 22, the CIAC released its winter sports guidance, which includes, "Permitting vaccinated student-athletes to participate in basketball, hockey, and track running events without a mask after school is released for the winter holiday break will be at the discretion of each local school district."

Last Thursday, the school board approved a letter to DPH Commissioner Manitha Juthani, expressing concerns "that DPH, in concert with the CT State Department of Education, will consider a similar policy direction and/or support legislation that will continue to visibly distinguish students based upon their medical status during the school day."

An excerpt from the letter to Juthani, signed by eight of the 10 school board members, states, "Any well-intentioned public health policy, guidance or legislation currently under consideration - be it through Executive emergency powers or legislative process - that would make a visible difference between students from K-12 based on any characteristics is a reversion to the stigmatizing practices of the past."

The letter continued," The Ellington Public Schools has been a leader in efforts combating the pandemic. Our concern about the holistic health of our children continues to be the driving force in our decision making during these trying times. Using DPH/SDE guidance, we were able to return students to full session on October 5, 2020. We implemented many layers of mitigation - from masks to ventilation, to contact tracing - that allowed our students and staff to remain safe at school."

At its Dec. 9 meeting, the board approved the following motion:

"Move that the Board of Education, in recognition of the Board’s concerns regarding the creation of state policies, guidelines, or legislation that visibly distinguish between those who are vaccinated and those who are not; specifically that such policies may violate the district’s obligations under the Family Educational Records Protection Act to keep student information private that they potentially publicly stigmatize students and present them for targets of harassment and that such decisions to vaccinate fall along demographic religious, cultural and socio economic lines; approve the letter as stated with permission for the Superintendent to distribute accordingly."