Mask-Wearing To Become Optional At New Canaan Schools Feb. 28

NEW CANAAN, CT — Mask-wearing will be optional for all students and staff, grades K-12, at New Canaan Public Schools beginning Feb. 28, district officials announced this week.

The decision comes days after Gov. Ned Lamont announced Monday the state will not extend its school mask mandate past Feb. 28, and the decision to require students to wear a mask will be up to individual school districts and daycare centers.

In a letter sent to families Wednesday evening, Superintendent Bryan Luizzi said the district will go mask-optional once students and staff return from their winter break Feb. 28, citing "rapidly declining case rates, successful implementation of mitigation strategies and high [coronavirus] vaccination rates" as reasoning for the decision.

"This is an important milestone for our school community in our journey through the pandemic," Luizzi said in the letter, "made possible by the collective commitment to our students, staff and entire school community."

Luizzi also noted specifics regarding this initiative are still being developed by the state departments of education and public health, and said he looked forward to sharing a more detailed update prior to the start of winter break Feb. 21.

In a statement emailed to Patch, First Selectman Kevin Moynihan noted he did not order a mask mandate for New Canaan when Lamont granted local control to municipalities back in August.

"New Canaan is among the most highly vaccinated towns in Connecticut," Moynihan said. "Given that Omicron cases have plummeted as fast as they rose in mid-December, I believe the circumstances in New Canaan justify the superintendent and the Board of Education going to a mask-optional policy for our public schools when the state mandate ends."

A request for comment from Board of Education Chair Katrina Parkhill was not immediately returned Friday.

Lamont's change of heart came the same day as New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced he would drop his state's mandate on March 7. The two northeastern state leaders have frequently been in sync in both their enactment and relaxation of COVID-19 protocols throughout the pandemic.

"I think this is something we've earned" Lamont said during a news conference Monday afternoon.

See also: Lamont: Connecticut Will Lift School Mask Mandate Feb. 28

In its latest guidance, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends universal indoor masking by all students ages 2 years and older, staff, teachers and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status.