Williamsville, N.Y. (WBEN) - In a letter to the Williamsville Central School District dated Friday, November 5, 2021, Erie County Health Commissioner Dr. Gale Burstein clarified the New York State Department of Health guidance concerning masks breaks for students in schools, indicating the breaks were not part of the state guidelines.
Numerous school districts have been allowing for mask breaks after they were included in initial guidance from ECDOH but were usurped by subsequent guidelines issued by the state.
"Prior to NYSDOH school guidance, Erie County school guidance included a 'mask break' option," the letter(below) states. "However, schools are required to follow the guidance set by NYSDOH.
In response to the letter, Williamsville Schools Superintendent Dr. Darren Brown-Hall fired off a response to Burstein Monday(below) asking for clarity on whether the letter was targeting just Williamsville and also added support for having the mask breaks as an option.
"If the county is adamant that mask breaks will not be allowed, even though are following the guidance from the beginning of the school year, and implementing it with fidelity for the past nine weeks, a letter - with an explanation for families regarding the change and why Erie County Department of Health cannot continue to allow this, would be greatly appreciated."
As word of the clarification of the mask break policy for Williamsville leaked out, Hamburg Schools issued a statement(below) indicating it would continue to allow its mask breaks for students.
"Mask breaks will continue for all Hamburg Central School District students and staff in the same safe and thoughtful manner as they have since September of 2020."
Michael Cornell, President of the Erie Niagara School Superintendents Association also released a statement(below) following the letter from Burstein, stating, "Mask breaks are a critical component of overall compliance with this mosaic of interventions, and must be continued for as long as masking in schools is required."
