February 27, 2022
Dear Monroe-Woodbury families and staff,
I would like to share an important message regarding the newly-released recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Governor Hochul concerning COVID-19 mitigation strategies.
On Friday, February 25, the CDC released updated mask guidelines. The CDC introduced “COVID-19 Community Levels,” a new tool to help communities decide what prevention steps to take based on the latest data.
According to the CDC, “Community Levels can be low, medium, or high and are determined by looking at hospital beds being used, hospital admissions, and the total number of new COVID-19 cases in an area.” Based on these criteria, Orange County is identified as a level of low transmission.
As a result, the Governor has lifted the mask mandate. Effective Wednesday, March 2, 2022, mask wearing by students and staff in all district buildings will be optional. Parents and guardians will continue to have the option of having their child wear a mask while in school. Please speak with your child regarding this decision. This is a personal choice that must be treated with mutual respect by all.
Thank you for your ongoing patience and support; I recognize this has been a long and difficult situation. I will continue to share information with our school community as new developments take place. Please reach out to your building principal with any questions.
Warm regards,
Elsie Rodriguez
Superintendent of Schools