Update for Mask Wearing Outdoors

Yesterday Governor Cuomo announced that school districts will be permitted to relax mask-wearing requirements while students are outdoors. He also stated that the requirements for wearing a mask indoors remain unchanged. 

Last night the New York State Education Department (NYSED) modified the States guidance on in-person (Pre-K to Grade 12) instruction during the COVID-19 Pandemic document to align with the Governor's announcement.

The specific modification in the COVID-19 Pandemic guidance document states “face masks are not required to be worn outdoors on school grounds, including during outdoor school sports. However, responsible parties may choose to require face masks outdoors on school grounds subject to the parameters of this guidance. No student, teacher, staff member, or visitor may be prevented from wearing an acceptable face mask voluntarily on school grounds.”

Based on this new information and after reviewing the potential change with the Board of Education, the CL Leadership Team and multiple stakeholders within our COVID-19/Reopening Committee, it was decided that students, staff members and visitors will have the option of not wearing a mask while outdoors for any and all activities. We are still required by New York State, New York State Dept. of Health and the NYSED to have students and staff wear masks inside the school.

Please see the attached letter for more information.