Updated Mask Guidance Released For Norwalk Public Schools

NORWALK, CT — Masks will now be optional for Norwalk Public Schools students and staff beginning Tuesday, according to the district.

In an updated mask guidance posted to the district website Friday, Superintendent Alexandra Estrella and the Board of Education said the decision to shift to a mask-optional model was made following the state's recent decision to allow school districts to make their own choice about whether students should continue to wear masks in school.

The decision also comes a day after Mayor Harry Rilling lifted the city's mask mandate as cases of the coronavirus continue to decline in Norwalk.

See also: Norwalk Mask Mandate To Be Lifted Thursday: Mayor

"This has been a very challenging time for our community, especially students and staff," the new guidance reads. "A recent survey of NPS families showed that opinions regarding masks in schools were split across the district. Together as a community, we encourage everyone to model acceptance and kindness for our children as this transition takes place, and families make individualized decisions about mask wearing."

While cases of the virus have decreased in Norwalk over the past few weeks, the district will continue to follow COVID-19 trends closely. Should conditions change in the future, the mask mandate could be reinstated, the new guidance emphasizes.

Estrella and board members noted the safety of students and staff is always put first, and the district is committed to continuing the following mitigating strategies:

• NPS will continue to maintain recommended ventilation, sanitation practices, distancing and maintaining air filters.
• Adhering to guidelines requiring masking when an activity can only be done safely with masks, such as chorus (the state has yet to update guidance in this area).
• Students should bring a mask to school each day in case there are times where it becomes necessary to wear one (e.g. buses, chorus, etc.). Schools have masks on hand if needed.
• Progressive Diagnostics will continue to offer free testing once a week at each school to unvaccinated and vaccinated students, not exhibiting any COVID-related symptoms, with parental consent. For information click here.
• Continue to work with local healthcare partners to provide eligible NPS students with free Pfizer Covid vaccines via clinics. Click here for dates, times and locations.
• Make COVID-19 test kits available for students and staff while supplies are available via the state.
• Follow isolation and quarantine protocols for vaccinated and unvaccinated students who test positive for COVID-19 or have symptoms. Please refer to the FAQ on norwalkps.org for details.
• Students who test positive must wear a mask upon return to school on days 6-10 (with a negative COVID-19 test) in accordance with current CDC guidelines.
• Masking will remain in effect in nurses' offices for students who are sick or exhibit symptoms until picked up by a parent. There may be spaces for infection control within the school that also require masking.
• The federal mandate for mask wearing expires for all public transportation March 18. Beginning March 21, masks will be optional for students on NPS buses. NPS bus drivers will continue to wear masks per the Durham School Services bus company.

"We appreciate your support as we continue to navigate the pandemic," the guidance reads, "while ensuring that schools remain a safe place for students and staff."

According to the Norwalk Hour, the Board of Education voted 5-3 to allow mask choice for students and staff during its meeting Thursday night.

While not all board members voted in favor of the resolution, they considered a number of factors before reaching a decision, including local COVID-19 data and the results of a survey which indicated a majority of Norwalk families that responded to the survey favored lifting the mask mandate, the Norwalk Hour reports.

In announcing the lift of Norwalk's city-wide mask mandate Thursday, Rilling noted the decision came after a sustained decline in COVID-19 case rates in both the city and the surrounding area, as well as increased vaccination rates among Norwalk residents.

Rilling also advised residents to remain cautious and be mindful of the most vulnerable members of the Norwalk community, some of which are immunocompromised or may not be able to get vaccinated.

The city continues to provide free COVID-19 vaccine clinics at Veteran's Park on Monday, Tuesday and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. through its partnership with Community Health Center, Inc.

Further information can be found at norwalk.org/vaccine.