The first city school to drop student mask mandates abruptly folded Friday after getting smacked down by state health officials.
Prestigious private school Poly Prep Country Day School in Brooklyn told parents this week that masks would be optional beginning Monday.
But state health officials quickly swooped in to alert the school that it was in “violation” of school masking laws.
“However, we received clarity today from the NY State Department of Health and the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene that such a measure is not permissible under current state- and city-wide restrictions,” wrote Sarah Zuercher, the school’s director of health and well-being, in a note to parents.
A state Health Department official said the agency contacted the school to relay their concerns.
The masks optional policy had overwhelming support from parents but had to be delayed after the NY State Department of Health and Mental Hygiene intervened. Paul Martinka“We worked with the school and the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and the school agreed to delay its plan to no longer require masks until such a policy is permitted,” said spokesperson Jill Montag. “We are glad they decided to do the right thing.”
Several Poly Prep families said they were disappointed by the pressured reversal.
“I think it’s absolutely ridiculous,’ said the mother of a Poly Prep high schooler. “The administration had universal support to do what they did. Parents are tired of this. We should have some say, the school should have some say.”
NYC school kids wear masks while walking in The Bronx. Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography OfficeA fifth-grade student’s parent said she wasn’t surprised by the rollback. “To be honest I could see this coming. They weren’t going to let this happen. Simple as that.”
Another elementary school parent said that her fourth-grader was thrilled at the prospect of a freed face in a matter of days.
“The worst part is having to explain all this to a kid,” she said. “This whole thing has been pretty cruel, and this is just one more example. It’s hard.”
The school advised parents to turn the letdown into a teachable moment.
“Share an experience you had as a child where plans had to change quickly,” Zuercher counseled in her Friday letter. “Lastly, thank them for their patience and understanding.”
While Gov. Kathy Hochul lifted mask mandates for indoor businesses, they remain in effect for schoolchildren.
State officials have argued that they are a necessary safeguard against transmission in schools.
NYC school kids are still required to wear masks in class. Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office“We know some of our youngest learners may be disappointed or confused regarding this change in plans,” Zuercher wrote. “When speaking with your children, we recommend discussing the need to be flexible in life.”
The K-12 school — which requires all students and staff to be vaccinated — had stressed that it had not had any serious COVID-19 cases and that infections had been dropping.
Hochul has said she plans to revisit the state’s school mask mandates in March.
“We look forward to a return to normalcy as soon as is permissible,” Zuercher concluded in her letter.
Poly Prep, which enrolls roughly 1,000 kids, has two campuses in Park Slope and Dyker Heights.
