As of Tues. March 1, North Branford Public School (NBPS) students and staff will not be required to wear a facial mask while in school buildings. The news was shared with school families and staff by Superintendent of Schools Scott Schoonmaker in a letter issued Feb. 15.

As also noted in the letter, at their discretion, students and staff may continue to wear a mask as of March 1 while in school buildings, where there will be a "supportive and judgement-free environment."   Masks will also need to continue to be worn by drivers and students on all public and private school transportation.  School athletes will abide by any changes made by the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) after the statewide Covid school mask mandate ends on Feb. 28.

The district's decision to move forward with no longer requiring facial masks was made in conjunction with the BOE and through the work of the NBPS Covid Task Force, which will continue to be vigilant and collaborate with the town's local health department, East Shore District Health Department (ESDHD), the State Department of Public Health and the Center for Disease Control for guidance and any necessary changes, said Schoonmaker.

"It was a decision that was very carefully made," said Schoonmaker, speaking with Zip06/The Sound on Feb. 18. "We took into great consideration all of the mitigation strategies that we had in place, and our success, from 20-plus months ago, being able to keep the doors open five days a week with live instruction. We've gotten to a good place because we have worked together."

Schoonmaker thanked the BOE for its support and praised the entire district membership for its "amazing" work over many months, including teaching staff, nursing staff, administrators, secretarial staff, tech teams, custodians; as well as the NBPS COVID Task Force.

"They put us in a position where we're able to start taking steps and go forward, and to carefully monitor as we go along," he said. "I think our COVID team, my administrative team, we have a pulse on our successes as a district within North Branford and how we've handled this pandemic."

Schoonmaker said he also respects those surrounding towns and other school districts throughout the state which continue to work through addressing the issue before making a decision about continuing or discontinuing facial masks in schools after Feb. 28.

"I don't say this lightly: there are so many unknowns; but with our staff, I know we will be able to adjust," said Schoonmaker. "We will be able to take each day one day at a time; and if we need to go to Plan B, we go to Plan B."

Schoonmaker said he's only heard positive feedback since issuing the Feb. 15 letter on lifting the school mask mandate for students and staff. He thanked the North Branford Public School community for their continued support and partnership as the district continues to keep the focus on the health and safety of students, staff and community members.

"I think it's the right time for North Branford to get back to normal, and that's what we're really striving to do – to get the masks off the kids and get them back on the playing on the field, on the stage and get them back socializing with dances and proms and doing things that you only have a short period of time in your young life to experience," he said. "We want to give those experiences back to our children."