Mamaroneck Releases COVID-19 Risk Mitigation Plan

MAMARONECK, NY — With school in the Mamaroneck district starting Thursday, Sept. 9, Superintendent Robert Shaps said he wants parents to know what their children can expect for the new year.

"Our focus remains on maintaining a healthy and safe school environment," Shaps said in an email to the community, "keeping our schools open for in-person learning and minimizing disruption caused by the need to quarantine."

He said the 2021-2022 Safe Schools/Covid-19 Risk Mitigation Plan was available online for reference.

Shaps called it a multi-tiered plan, based on recommendations from the state Education Department, the Westchester County Department of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics, in consultation with the district's physician.

Among the topics covered in the plan are masking and physical distancing.

The Mamaroneck district will require indoor masking for all individuals entering the schools, regardless of vaccination status, including all students, staff members and any visitors.

Outdoor masking will be optional for both students and staff. However, individuals who are unvaccinated should be masked in crowded outdoor settings, and the district may mandate masks for everyone at large outdoor gatherings.

Regarding physical distancing, as per CDC guidelines, the district said 3 feet of distancing — when possible — will be used in classrooms and other instructional areas.

While Gov. Kathy Hochul said Tuesday that the state is working on requiring all teachers to be vaccinated, with an option for weekly testing, the Mamaroneck district will wait for further clarification on the mandate, at which time any updates will be provided.

Shaps said, within the next week, parents will be hearing from their children's school principal who will provide more details on building-specific information.

"In the meantime, thank you for your time and attention to our protocols, and thank you for partnering with us to protect the health and well-being of our school community," he said.