A message from the Superintendent

Superintendent's Update #7

August 27, 2021

Dear Chappaqua Central School District Families and Staff,

I hope this email finds you well. I am writing to update our school community on information I received today from the New York State Department of Health. The following statement was emailed to me this afternoon from the NYSDOH School Reopening Team:

Effective immediately, in accordance with the Commissioner's Determination issued pursuant to 10 NYCRR 2.60, any person over the age of 2 (including all students, personnel, teachers, administrators, contractors, and visitors) must wear masks at all times indoors in P-12 school buildings, regardless of vaccination status. People with medical or developmental conditions that prevent them from wearing a mask may be exempted from mask requirements, as documented by a medical provider. People do not need to wear masks when eating, drinking, singing, or playing a wind instrument; when masks are removed for these purposes, individuals must be spaced six feet apart. All mask requirements must be applied consistently with any state and federal law (e.g., Americans with Disabilities Act).

This guidance reinforces our previously shared position on universal masking in our school buildings and, as a result, will not require us to make adjustments at this time. Please note that weather permitting, band instruments will be played outside. In the event of inclement weather, our music teachers will provide indoor instruction that does not require students to remove their masks. We will consider adjustments to this practice when the Westchester County Department of Health releases updated quarantine guidance.

Thank you for your continued support and understanding. We look forward to welcoming our students back to school on September 1^st.

Sincerely,

Christine Ackerman, PhD
Superintendent of Schools