White Plains Schools To Require Masks For 2021-22

WHITE PLAINS, NY — The White Plains schools are expected to be fully open five days a week for in-person instruction when the 2021-22 school year begins Sept. 9.

When the doors open, the district will require all teachers, staff and students to wear facial coverings or masks while in district facilities and on district transportation, officials said.

In a letter to parents, Superintendent Joseph Ricca said the district's Reopening Committee recently met to discuss and consider health and safety strategies for the beginning of the school year — "In the absence of updated guidance from the New York State Department of Health."

SEE ALSO: White Plains School Calendar 2021-22: First Day Of School

Besides requiring masks, the committee decided that hybrid instruction was discontinued, remote instruction will be employed in emergent situations such as when a full class is required to quarantine or isolate and activities, extracurriculars and athletics will proceed as scheduled with health and safety mitigation.

Ricca said the district will continue to offer vaccination opportunities and information, as well as coronavirus screening tests, on an opt-in basis.

Standard health and safety mitigation strategies, as employed within the 2020-2021 academic year, will continue. They include daily screening, cleaning, physical distancing and reporting.

"Of course, more detailed information will be shared with our community as we near the opening of school," Ricca said.