Easton, Redding and Region 9 Schools To Suspend Mask Mandate

EASTON/REDDING, CT — The wearing of masks in the Easton, Redding and Region 9 Public Schools will soon be optional.

The three school boards voted unanimously Tuesday night to suspend the mask mandate for students and staff inside school buildings, effective Mar. 1.

The school mask mandate was a product of Gov. Ned Lamont's pandemic emergency executive orders, which are no longer in effect. Earlier this month, Lamont recommended the mandate be dropped in favor of local control effect Feb. 28. The House agreed to extend the governor's executive orders through the end of February, and the Senate did likewise a week later.

Recommendations from the state Department of Public Health on how to manage a transition from a mask mandate to a masks optional policy were delivered last Friday, but were inadequate, according to superintendent Jason McKinnon.

"The guidance from the state lacks any clear blueprint about what district should do," McKinnon said. "Instead of providing us answers, they are asking us more questions."

The three boards have until Aug. 15. to rescind or pass a new mandate. In the interim, McKinnon holds the authority to enforce a mask mandate.

The superintendent said the most important issue before the three school boards now was how to navigate the social and emotional landscape of a classroom where some children elect to wear masks, and others do not.

"I am more worried about what guidance do we give to our principals and our teachers so that they can start having conversations with students between now and Friday about what that looks like, so that everyone feels comfortable," McKinnon said.

The public transportation mask mandate, coming down from the Feds and not Hartford, will remain in effect, so masks will still be required on school buses.