Time For School Mask Mandate To End, Fairfield Parents, BOE Say

FAIRFIELD, CT — Fairfield’s school board wants the governor to do two things as Connecticut gradually moves toward post-pandemic life: End the state’s school mask mandate and fund a state-run remote learning academy for medically vulnerable students.

All nine board members signed a letter to Gov. Ned Lamont detailing the requests after a discussion Tuesday. The letter cited Connecticut’s low coronavirus transmission rate and increasing number of vaccinations in its case against the mask requirement.

“What it’s about to me is returning to a sense of normalcy for all children,” Vice Chair Nick Aysseh said. His sentiment was echoed by many parents who either attended the board meeting or called in to talk about the letter.

Far more Connecticut children ages 10-19 died of suicide in 2020 than the coronavirus, one parent noted. Fairfield’s average daily virus case rate per 100,000 people was less than five cases between June 6 and June 19, according to state data. About 66 percent of town residents had received at least one dose of the vaccine as of Wednesday.

“This simply cannot drag out until the week before school,” parent Erica Campbell said. “We need your action now.”

Among those in attendance Tuesday was Sarah Nocerino, a self-described “would-be FPS parent” who crowdfunded an effort in early June to make 200 lawn signs demanding authorities “Unmask our kids.” Nocerino’s kindergarten-aged daughter will attend a private school in the fall.

“She’ll be learning to read without the hindrance of a mask,” Nocerino said. “She will walk freely around her new classroom.”

Calling in Tuesday was Fairfield parent Marney White, who started an online petition asking the state to provide a remote learning option for medically vulnerable families in the coming school year. White has an illness that requires chemotherapy and did not develop antibodies after receiving the coronavirus vaccine.

“Until herd immunity has been achieved, it will not be safe for children with medically vulnerable family members to return to the school building,” said the petition, which had just under 160 signatures as of early Friday morning.

During the board discussion, Aysseh suggested a regional state-funded remote academy could be a good option for the fall.

“There are kids in our district and kids across the state that will need help,” he said. “They will not be able to come to the school buildings, and how we help them is going to be vital.”