Hudson Valley Schools Prep For Optional Masks As Mandate Lifts

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Parents and school officials across the region are prepping for a new stage in the coronavirus pandemic era as the school mask mandate ends in New York on Wednesday.

"Today, Governor Hochul announced that the mask mandate will be lifted effective March 2," Ossining schools Superintendent Ray Sanchez wrote in an email to the community Sunday night. "As a result, on Wednesday, we can expect mask-wearing by students and staff in all district buildings will be optional. Parents and guardians will continue to have the option of having their child wear a mask while in school. Please speak with your children regarding this decision. This is a family decision that must be treated with mutual respect by all."

The "optional" part is weighing on educators who have been hearing for months from parents on both sides of the mask debate. Since the pandemic began, mask mandates have brought out a lot of aggressive behavior among adults across the country.

"We hope you will spend some time speaking with your children over the next few days about your family’s choice regarding the wearing of masks and reinforce that these are deeply personal decisions that each family makes based on a variety of factors best for each family," Mamaroneck schools Superintendent Robert I. Shaps wrote to parents Sunday night. "We encourage you to speak to your child(ren) about respecting the mask choices that other families make."

In the Archdiocese of New York, the wearing of a mask by an adult or children in its Catholic schools will not be required but "will be recommended," officials said Sunday night.

“We will encourage the continued use of masks but will respect the choice of each parent and staff member,” Michael J. Deegan, Superintendent of Schools for Archdiocese of New York, said in an announcement. “As part of our Catholic values infusion program, students learn we all have a moral responsibility for the good of all and must have respect for everyone. As a school community, we must respect each other’s decisions but remain united as a community of faith. This transition is a truly teachable moment for our children."

Additional guidance is expected, school leaders said.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's announcement Sunday was a surprising change from the plan she had set up to have health officials spend this week — after the winter break — checking pediatric coronavirus case and COVID-19 hospitalization rates before making a decision March 4.

The change was based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's new mask guidance released Friday. The CDC, Hochul said, has determined risk assessment by county. In New York, 70 percent live in areas with low-to-medium risk, Hochul said. The CDC said that for those in low-to-medium risk areas, mask are no longer needed indoors, including schools and children aged 2 and up in daycare.

The counties in the Hudson Valley are all low-risk, according to this map by the CDC as of Feb. 24:

"Throughout the pandemic, we have prioritized the health and safety of our children. Thankfully, COVID-19 cases in Ulster County have declined 97 percent since the Omicron surge and the public health risk is significantly reduced," said Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan welcoming the decision.

Counties with higher positivity rates will be allowed to determine what's best in their areas, Hochul said.

"Dutchess County has pressed the Governor to end use of emergency powers. We welcome the end to mask requirements for our children later this week – and will take no action to require them locally," County Executive Marc Molinaro said.

It's about time the mandate for masks in school was lifted, said State Assemblyman Colin Schmitt, who said he would introduce a bill to prevent governors from imposing "draconian measures on our children" in the future.

New York State United Teachers President Andy Pallotta said he thought the governor was striking the right balance by empowering local officials to use data to determine if and when the mitigation strategies need to change in their areas.

"As the guidance changes, one thing must remain constant: It’s essential that districts work closely with educators to ensure there is confidence in their health and safety plans," he said.

Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney tweeted about Hochul’s announcement. "Great decision by Governor Hochul! We are getting back to normal because the American Rescue Plan got shots in arms, funded schools, and kept our economy afloat."

Parents expressed varying views on social media. Some opposed to the mask mandate are still angry and suggested sending children to school without masks Monday and Tuesday as a continuing protest. Others said unvaccinated children should have to wear masks to protect their classmates.

Hochul said Sunday that the goal she's had since taking office was to keep children in school in light of the devastating effect of remote learning on children, and that she had held to that goal despite "a lot of objections."

Students in most districts headed back to school Monday after winter break, which for many included travel and activities that state officials worried might expose them to community transmission of the coronavirus. For monitoring purposes, the state distributed 4.8 million tests statewide to students in schools and more than 20 million have been given out statewide.

Close attention to the coronavirus will continue, Hochul said. In addition, she said the state would have zero tolerance for those bullying children or adults in schools who choose to wear masks.

The state will continue its appeal against a judge's ruling in January that the mask mandate was unconstitutional, state officials said.

Patch Editor Lisa Finn contributed to this report.