Branford's Board of Education (BOE) will hold a public hearing on whether the district's public schools should require face coverings on school property after February 28, 2022; which is the date when Gov. Ned Lamont's state mandate requiring facial coverings in all schools will end.  The BOE will hold the public hearing Wed. Feb. 16 at 6 p.m. in the auditorium at Walsh Intermediate School (WIS), 185 Damascus Road.

News of the public hearing was issued as a notice by the BOE on Feb. 8, following the Feb. 7 announcement by Gov. Lamont that Connecticut's state mandate for school face covering requirements will not be extended beyond Feb. 28, 2022; and that any additional requirements for face coverings in schools beyond Feb. 28 will be by the determination of local school boards.

In the notice, the BOE also noted, "The purpose of the public hearing is for the Branford Board of Education to receive and consider public comments concerning whether or not the Branford Public School System should adopt a policy to require individuals to use face coverings while on school property beyond the date established by either Executive Order and Legislative action."