On Friday, New York State Health Commissioner Howard Zucker issued a letter informing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that New York would ease the mask requirements in schools as early as Monday, June 7.
Please note that at this time, the City School District of Albany and other public schools have received no definite guidance from the state regarding mask requirements or any other changes to COVID health and safety protocols.
As a result, the 24 districts that comprise Capital Region BOCES (including ours) will make no change to mask polices until such guidance is received. Mask wearing will continue in accordance with school district reopening plans that were developed based on the comprehensive state guidance of last summer. Read the BOCES statement here.
The New York State Education Department has been in communication with executive staff regarding the communication. According to conversations with executive staff, the intent of this letter was to obtain a response from the CDC regarding differing standards for summer camps and schools; it has not changed any existing arrangements. Therefore, schools should continue to operate under their existing procedures until further notice. No changes have been, or will be, made by the governor until after Monday June 7 to afford the CDC an opportunity to respond to the letter.
“Once we receive direction from state officials, we will review the guidance and make adjustments accordingly,” Superintendent Kaweeda G. Adams said.
"For now, we will continue with the COVID face mask protocols in school and district buildings. We will notify our families, faculty and staff via email, SchoolMessenger and our social media outlets with updated information as it becomes available."
