• COVID Update — Jan. 26, 2022

    Dear Families,  

    We hope that you are well. Thank you for your patience with regard to confusion over the state mask mandate and the decision made in a case in Nassau County. First, it is very important to note that this decision has been “stayed.” In other words, the mask mandate throughout our state remains in place while the decision is being appealed to the state’s highest court, the New York State Court of Appeals. The State Education Department communicated to all districts on Tuesday evening that despite the decision and one conflicting decision in Albany County that supported the mandate, schools were to keep masking in place in anticipation of the appeal and the stay. We will be following this case carefully and will keep you informed should any changes occur as a result of state action. 

    Once the case is decided, which may take some time, we will: 

    • Review the decision with our counsel to determine our legal responsibility. 
    • Review our own policies, procedures, and health and safety measures. 
    • Review our experiences thus far and the in-district impact of masking on transmission. 
    • Review advice from our School District Physician and other applicable public health authorities such as the Monroe County Department of Public Health. 
    • Review policies and regulations provided by the State Education Department and the New York State Department of Health. 
    • Communicate the result of these reviews and the district’s approach to mitigation, including masking. 

    In the interim, please note that mandatory masking by all students, staff, and visitors remains in place in all facilities and on all buses. Thank you for your support. 

    Our numbers continue to improve significantly. Absences are only slightly elevated at this point and we’re very near “normal” numbers. Our case counts have improved as well. As of today, the following are the active cases in each school: 

    Brighton High School: 3 

    Twelve Corners Middle School: 5 

    French Road Elementary School: 10 

    Council Rock Primary School: 8 

    We have been informed by the County that 87% of eligible K-12 students living in the Brighton Central School District (this would include all students who reside in the District, even if they attend non-public schools) have received at least one shot of a COVID vaccine. 

    Thank you again for all that you are doing to keep yourself and others safe. Be well! 

    Kevin 

    Kevin McGowan, Ed.D. 
    Superintendent of Schools