Medina announces school will be in-person only with no remote option

District holding off on decision about masking for students until late August

MEDINA — When students head back to school beginning Sept. 8, there won’t be an option for remote education in the 2021-22 school year, district superintendent Mark Kruzynski said in a letter to the community today.

School will be in-person only and will be full-time, five days a week. In addition, instrumental music, chorus and elementary specials will be full classes, just as before the pandemic, Kruzynski said.

The district, however, is holding off on a decision about students wearing masks. Kruzynski acknowledged it’s a controversial issue for many people.

The American Academy of Pediatrics, the federal Center for Disease Control and state Education Department are all recommending students, teachers and staff wear masks, regardless of vaccination status. The CDC updated its guidance on Aug. 5 and cited the highly contagious Delta variant. The CDC also recommended maintaining at least 3 feet of distance between students.

Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul will take over as governor following Andrew Cuomo’s resignation on Aug. 24. She said on Thursday she anticipates the state will issue a masking mandate for students.

“Whether those masking mandates are universal or based on community transmission levels remains unclear at this point,” Kruzynski said in his letter.

The district will wait until the end of August to make a decision about masks when it’s clear what will be required from the new Hochul administration.

“Quite simply, there is no reason to put out masking regulations today if things might have to change before school starts on Sept., 8, 2021,” Kruzynski wrote.

The district superintendent said it remains the district’s “number one priority” to have students back in school safely, in person, every day.