Canton Schools Drop Mask Mandate

CANTON, CT — Canton public schools will lift their mask mandate as of Feb. 28, Superintendent Kevin Case announced Thursday.

Starting next month, face coverings will be optional for students and staff in Canton Public Schools (but children will still need to wear masks while on student transportation, per federal regulations).

In a letter, Case cited high vaccination rates and "a dramatic decrease in COVID positive cases in Connecticut, the Farmington Valley and in the Canton Community" as reason for doing away with required masking.

Case said the school district will continue to implement mitigation strategies, including contact tracing, and he encourages anyone who still wants to wear a mask to do so.

"We urge all of our community members to continue to be respectful of others who have a different opinion on this matter and of those who will need or choose to continue to wear masks," Case wrote. "Let's continue to be supportive of one another. This support is what makes our Canton Community a great place to live and learn."

Gov. Ned Lamont announced on Feb. 7 that Connecticut will lift its school mask mandate beginning March 1, allowing individual school districts to decide whether they want to continue requiring face coverings.