Dear Putnam Valley Community:
As many are aware, New York State’s mask mandate is back in our news cycle following Governor Hochul’s announcement today regarding mask use in businesses. Based on the information provided by Governor Hochul, New York State has indicated that the school mask mandate will be revisited following the upcoming February break. New York State has shared a variety of data points that will be reviewed prior to reaching a decision regarding the school mask mandate. Until another decision is reached at the state level, the current mask mandate remains in place for all schools in New York State.
At this point, I believe it is important to restate the fact that the Putnam Valley School District, our staff, and the members of the Board of Education are obligated to enforce this mandate. Our requirement to uphold the current law should not be viewed as a political statement. We take no joy in the tension this topic has created within our community or our country. Until the time arrives when the mask mandate is lifted, we respectfully request that your children arrive at school prepared to wear a mask. The last thing anyone wants is to put a child of any age in an uncomfortable situation attempting to make a statement regarding a mandate we have no local control over. On behalf of the Putnam Valley School District, I will continue to advocate for New York State to release clear and measurable metrics for when the students of Putnam Valley will be provided the choice to wear a mask.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jeremy Luft
Superintendent of Schools