Vestal

With the volume of messages emerging at the State level, all slightly varying, we wanted to provide additional clarification on what we understand the status quo to be regarding face coverings in schools at this time...

• The information that came out on June 4 was not an actual change in NYS guidelines, but was a request from the NYS Health Commissioner to the CDC for guidance. 

• The CDC was not in favor of all the changes that were being proposed by the NYS Department of Health. 

• During the Governor's press conference on June 7, he announced that school districts can choose to life the requirement that students must wear masks outdoors. Guidance on mask use indoors remains in place.

Vestal CSD began to follow these new guidelines effective June 8, 2021:

• Masks should continue to be worn by students and staff while inside school buildings and on buses. 

• Students and staff will not be required to wear masks outside, but are encouraged to voluntarily wear them. 

Vestal has been committed to ensuring that we are doing everything possible to protect our students and staff. Every decision we have made has had that as our number one priority. At this point in the school year, our goal is to finish the year smoothly and positively. Let's keep our focus on providing a strong finish for our students and their families.