A Feb. 16 public hearing drew about 100 attendees where the majority of parents and students coming to the podium asked Branford schools to immediately end the facial mask mandate after Feb. 28, when the state mandate ends.

Many members of the public at the hearing provided sometimes emotional and heart-rending reports of children impacted in their learning and emotional development due to being required to attend school wearing a facial covering, including feelings of anxiety. Some voiced frustration as to why students should be required to continue mask-wearing when other segments of the population aren't under a similar mandate; and questioned the efficacy of the types of masks worn by students, as well as often improper wearing of masks, limit the risk of infection or spread of Covid. Several students representing elementary, intermediate and high school students spoke to the Board of Education (BOE) and gave their reasons to end the mandate. Some described the discomfort of wearing masks, difficulty hearing others, breakouts and skin irritations caused by masks, the difficulty breathing in a mask, and the loss of not being able to see reactions, smiles and full faces of teachers and peers.  Several parents noted the negative impact on the district's youngest students, including those who have been masked for their entire school experience over the past two years, as well as the difficulty mask wearing presents for special education, hearing impaired and speech impaired students. Ultimately, parents asked for the BOE to compromise by removing the mandate while allowing anyone who chooses the option to continue mask-wearing at school.

Branford's Board of Education (BOE) called the public hearing as part of its deliberations to determine the best path forward for students, faculty and staff. Following the Feb. 16 public hearing, the BOE will be in recess until it reconvenes on Wed. Feb. 23, at 7 p.m. at Walsh Intermediate School (WIS), when the BOE will pick up the balance of the Feb. 16 meeting agenda including any action on the face covering item as well as a full board vote on the proposed 2022-23 schools' budget.

While comments were not taken via online or phone during the Feb. 16 hearing; BOE chair Peter Berdon noted "a very large number of communications" had been received and that comments will continue to be accepted by the BOE, by email, through Friday, Feb. 18 to bpscomments@branfordschools.org

The Feb. 16 BOE hearing included the presence of two Branford police officers in the WIS auditorium. Berdon noted 2 hours were set aside for the hearing process. The hearing had 88 people signed up to speak with 3-minute limit for each speaker, with the first 16 alternating between adults and students. Berdon noted the ability for all to be heard would be limited by any delays caused by disruptions from the audience. Twice during the public hearing, Berdon did pause the commentary to request all audience members continue to wear facial masks or leave if they were not going to wear them. Some of those in question replaced their masks and stayed on, while about half a dozen, including adults and kids wearing masks, left. Ultimately, every name on the public hearing list was called to be heard; although some speakers had left the meeting by the time their name was called.

Superintendent of Schools Hamlet Hernandez provided input from district employees including information from leaders of the district's 6 unions and those not represented by unions, which he noted created a "very open and inclusive process to ensure that we hear as many voices as possible."

"They work in Branford Public Schools just like you send your children to Branford Public Schools; and we wanted to get their input and what their membership essentially feels about this question," said Hernandez, later adding the input was an effort to provide a "...very open and inclusive process to ensure that we hear as many voices as possible."

BPS school nurses favored keeping the mask mandate at least through April or until the end of the school year; teachers responding to survey were 55 percent in favor of keeping the mandate and 45 percent in favor of ending it; paraprofessionals ranked slightly over 50 percent in favor of keeping the mandate and the district's clerical group had 60 percent in favor of continuing the mask coverings. The district's 13 administrators reported 8 in favor of ending the mandate and 3 to continue it.  BPS custodial workers favored ending the mandate by 71 percent. Non-represented employees (67) individuals responded with 56 percent in favor of continuing masking and 44 percent in favor of ending it.

Additionally, the BOE had the results of a survey sent out to district families, to which Berdon said was highly responded with the results roughly split but showing a slight majority in favor of not extending the mask mandate.

Ahead of public remarks on Feb. 16, the BOE invited East Shore District Health Director Michael Pascucilla and Branford School Physician Richard Young, M.D., M.P.H. to present. Both provided input, statistics and comments regarding the issue which led both to recommend extending the mask mandate for the time being.

Based on current data for this area and the state, combined with the recommendations of notable professional medical and disease control organizations and agencies, "...our recommendation at this time that we consider keeping masks on for the foreseeable future, then we can revisit the data at a time period as we move forward," Pascucilla summarized, adding that, in the meantime, his request would be to encourage families to consider getting vaccinated to "...help us get the rates up. The sum of all data shows vaccinations work."

Pascucilla discussed pros and cons, unintended consequences as well as benefits to the question of "to mask or not."  As of Feb. 16, from a state and local data stand point, there is still a high level of SARS Covid-2 infections within the community; with likely higher numbers than actually reported due to non-reported home test kit results. While the number is trending down overall, vaccination rates in Branford children ages 5 –11 is at only about 37 percent, with only 22 percent boosted. In Branford, 68 percent of those ages 12 –17 are vaccinated, with only 35 percent boosted.

"We have to think about risk, because if the masks come off in a few weeks, given the vaccination rates, given the infection rates, we'll see increase in Covid-19," said Pascucilla, adding, "...if we have higher rates in school, it will spill over to the whole Branford community. In time, maybe there's a phase-in [but] we have to look at vulnerable population."

Dr. Young said he agreed with Pascucilla's presentation and noted that, of the four mitigation strategies available to school populations -- distancing, ventilation, vaccination and masking – schools can't physically increase space and some older classrooms have ventilation challenges (until weather allows windows to be open).

"The two areas that we do have control is in vaccination and masking," he said, adding vaccinations and wearing masks were the best policy until the ESDHD advises otherwise.

Noting that the district also has a number of students with compromising health issues, "...if not for ourselves, it's important to protect those who are the most vulnerable amongst us."

Speaking at the start of the hearing, Berdon said, "The issue that is before us tonight is clearly important to many within our community. The survey we sent out far surpassed the responses to the board's budget survey. The number of emails that we have received and the attendance here tonight speaks volumes. Your input is highly valued and we look forward to your input helping to inform the district's next chapter."

He also noted the board considered several options in the way that it approached this issue.

"It could have done nothing in which case the face covering requirement would have expired. It could have acted at a meeting with limited public input; or as we did here seek out input through a wide variety of sources, expert opinions emails multiple surveys and your comments which we will hear tonight. It was the unanimous opinion of the board that hearing from our community on an issue that many feel very passionate was an important element in furthering good communications."

"Please do not assume that are we not thinking about what is best for your children," Berdon continued. "We approach tonight with open minds and we respect this is an issue which some have very strong and passionate feelings about... while we do not expect everyone to agree, our hope is at least we can understand where everyone is coming from. At the end of the day, no matter what the outcome on this matter is, half of you are not likely to agree with the decision, whatever it is, but hopefully you can come to understand and respect it."