To the Editor:

I’d like to express my gratitude to those who joined the Board of Education (BOE) February 15 meeting. The topic of whether to continue with the mask mandate in our schools or to instead allow students/parents and staff to make their own decision was emotionally charged, with strong opinions on both sides.

At the meeting, [School Superintendent] Dr Rodrigue recommended allowing optional masking while continuing to “consult with the local health director and the district’s health and wellness coordinator to monitor COVID-19 trends, as well as respond to State guidance,” further saying there may possibly be a “need to consider temporary changes to mitigation strategies, which may include a return to masking for a clearly defined period of time.”

The board unanimously agreed.

During the meeting, there was more than an hour of polite public participation from representatives of both sides. Over 100 members of the public attended, some arriving late, some in places where hearing was difficult given the poor acoustics in the room, and many for whom the experience of joining a BOE business meeting was new.

While there was more clapping than I had hoped given the expected length of the meeting, the participants immediately stopped when I quickly moved on to the next speaker. To those of you who participated, thank you for being so respectful.

Looking forward, the board has a lot of work ahead of it. The pandemic has caused disruptions to learning and to the mental health of many in our schools and community. I hope that everyone will continue to support the board, administration, staff, and students as we work together to recover and grow into the future.

Thank you,

Deborra Zukowski

Newtown Board of Education, Chair