The Brookfield Board of Education has voted to make masks for students and staff optional beginning next month.  At the special meeting last night, Chairman Bob Belden says they're moving into a new phase with the support of district health advisers.

Brookfield Health Director Dr Ray Sullivan provided written input, noting that he can reasonably assume that the town can recommend eliminating the mask requirement in schools when any executive order from the state expires.  He noted that his recommendation was based on the assumption that COVID cases, which have dropped precipitously for three weeks, will continue to decline. 

Masks will still be required on public transportation, including school buses, per federal law.

Superintendent Dr. John Barile says parents should continue to keep their children home if they are sick and urged people to follow current quarantine guidelines.  A poll of educators in the local Brookfield teachers union was split down the middle when it came to masks.  Barile noted that Brookfield’s opening plan said the board’s ultimate goal was to have children not wearing masks if circumstances and health conditions allowed.

A number of vocal parents have attended previous in-person board meetings, including some yelling and speaking out of turn, both for and against masks.  One meeting was ended abruptly due to an anti-mask disruption while YouTube temporarily removed video of another for alleged medical misinformation.  There was no public comment last night. Between the governor’s announcement ending a statewide mask mandate and Monday’s meeting, Belden received at least 84 emails.