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PROPOSED TEMPORARY POLICY/PROTOCOL CONCERNING USE OF FACE COVERINGS IN
SCHOOL (SHIPMAN GOODWIN)
5000.4T
STUDENTS
USE OF FACE COVERINGS IN SCHOOL - POLICY
The Colchester Board of Education (the “Board”) recognizes the importance of
protecting the health and safety of students, staff, and the community during the
COVID-19 pandemic. As such, and in accordance with requirements and guidelines
issued by the Connecticut State Department of Education (“SDE”), the Board requires
that all individuals entering a school building, a Colchester Public Schools (“District”)
facility, or a District transportation vehicle wear an appropriate face covering. An
appropriate face covering shall consist of a cloth mask or disposable procedure-style
mask that completely covers the individual’s nose and mouth. An appropriate face
covering shall not include “neck gaiters,” bandanas or exhalation valve masks. Any
individual who presents for entrance into a school building, District facility or District
transportation vehicle who is not wearing an appropriate face covering shall be
provided an appropriate face covering by the District.
Compliance with this policy shall be mandatory for all individuals while in a school
building, District facility and/or District transportation vehicle, unless an applicable
exception applies. Any individual who refuses to wear an appropriate face covering at all
times while in a school building, District facility or District transportation vehicle shall be
denied admission and/or required to leave the premises, unless an applicable exception
applies. In addition, failure to comply with this policy may lead to disciplinary action for
students and staff, and exclusion from school property for members of the community,
in accordance with applicable laws, rules, regulations, and/or Board policies.
All individuals participating in or attending any school-sponsored activities must wear an
appropriate face covering, whether or not those activities occur in a school building,
District facility or District transportation vehicle, unless an applicable exception applies
or the Administration, in consultation with the local health department, determines that
face coverings are not required for athletes participating in certain athletic activities.
The Board authorizes the Superintendent or designee to develop administrative
regulations and/or protocols to implement this policy. Such administrative regulations
and/or protocols shall outline authorized exceptions to the requirement that all
individuals wear an appropriate face covering in the school buildings, District facilities
and District transportation vehicles and may identify additional face covering rules as
related to the safe operation of the school community.
USE OF FACE COVERINGS IN SCHOOL Page 1 of 11
Legal References:
Connecticut General Statutes § 10-221
Adapt, Advance, Achieve: Connecticut’s Plan to Learn and Grow Together,
Connecticut State Department of Education, as amended by Addendums 1-11
(June 29, 2020 through August 31, 2020).
TEMPORARY POLICY ADOPTED: September 8, 2020
COLCHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Colchester, Connecticut
USE OF FACE COVERINGS IN SCHOOL Page 2 of 11
5000.4T
STUDENTS
USE OF FACE COVERINGS IN SCHOOL - PROTOCOL
In accordance with requirements and guidelines issued by the Connecticut State
Department of Education (“SDE”), the Colchester Public Schools (“District”) requires that
all individuals entering a school building, a District facility, or a District transportation
vehicle wear an appropriate face covering. An appropriate face covering shall consist of
a cloth mask or disposable procedure-style mask that completely covers the individual’s
nose and mouth. An appropriate face covering shall not include “neck gaiters,”
bandanas or exhalation valve masks. Any individual who presents for entrance into a
school building, District facility or District transportation vehicle who is not wearing an
appropriate face covering shall be provided an appropriate face covering by the District.
Compliance with these protocols shall be mandatory for all individuals while in a school
building, District facility and/or District transportation vehicle, unless an applicable
exception applies. Any individual who refuses to wear an appropriate face covering at all
times while in a school building, District facility or District transportation vehicle shall be
denied admission and/or required to leave the premises, unless an applicable exception
applies. In addition, failure to comply with these protocols may lead to disciplinary
action for students and staff, and exclusion from school property for members of the
community, in accordance with applicable laws, rules, regulations, and/or Board
policies.
All individuals participating in or attending any school-sponsored activities must wear an
appropriate face covering, whether or not those activities occur in a school building,
District facility or District transportation vehicle, unless an applicable exception applies
or the Administration, in consultation with the local health department, determines that
face coverings are not required for athletes participating in certain athletic activities.
● Students and all individuals being transported on District transportation vehicles
are required to wear appropriate face coverings (face coverings must be worn
prior to boarding and while exiting the vehicle), in accordance with the District’s
Transportation Protocols. Please see below for additional procedures for face
covering exemption requirements.
● Students, staff and all individuals inside school buildings and District facilities are
required to wear appropriate face coverings except if: (i) the individual cannot
wear the face covering because the individual has difficulty breathing, is
unconscious, or incapacitated; (ii) the individual cannot remove the face covering
without assistance; (iii) the individual has a documented medical reason making
USE OF FACE COVERINGS IN SCHOOL Page 3 of 11
it unsafe to wear a mask; (iv) the student is in preschool; or (v) the individual has
a disability that causes the individual to be unable to wear a face covering.
Important Note: The need for a medical exemption for the wearing of face
coverings of the styles recommended for use in schools for source control is rare.
Medical contraindications to the wearing of cloth or other similar loose fitting
masks generally are limited to individuals suffering from severe chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) such as might be seen with cystic fibrosis,
severe emphysema, heart failure, or significant facial burns that would cause
extreme pain or interfere with the healing of a skin graft. These severe medical
conditions will be rare in students or staff capable of presenting to the school for
work or instruction (in most cases these individuals would not be able to move
about freely without significant assistance). In addition, for anyone suffering
from any of these underlying conditions, the strong recommendation would be
for that person to remain at home and engage in fully virtual learning due to
their risk of developing severe complications if they did become infected with
COVID-19. Mild or intermittent respiratory or other common conditions such as
asthma, cardiovascular diseases, kidney disease, or other similar conditions
generally are not considered contraindications to the wearing of loose-fitting
face coverings.
● Face coverings may only be removed within the school building for the following
reasons: (i) eating/drinking; (ii) on school grounds with appropriate social
distancing implemented; and (iii) educational or medical activities requiring
removal of masks (speech and language, evaluations, etc.) ONLY under
circumstances when the school has implemented appropriate and
District-approved mitigating measures (such as gowns, face shields, additional
social distancing, physical barriers for District employees and/or students).
● If a student claims a medical or disability-related exemption from wearing a face
covering, the District shall follow the Decision Tree - Face Covering Exemptions in
these Protocols. If the District determines the request is based on medical need,
the parent or guardian and the student’s treating physician must complete the
Face Covering Exemption Request Form. If the District determines the request is
based on disability (skill deficit), the District shall promptly convene a Planning
and Placement Team (“PPT”) Meeting or Section 504 Team meeting as
appropriate to discuss and consider necessary programming revisions,
accommodations, modifications, etc.
● If a staff member claims a medical or disability-related exemption from wearing
a face covering, the District shall comply with all applicable laws, rules,
regulations, and requirements regarding the evaluation of, and response to, any
such claim.
USE OF FACE COVERINGS IN SCHOOL Page 4 of 11
● Students shall be offered face covering breaks during the school day as
determined appropriate by the Administration. A face covering break consists of
the student removing the face covering from the student’s own nose and mouth
for a short period of time. School district personnel supervising students shall
only permit a face covering break when individuals who are indoors are a
minimum of 12 feet apart or other District-approved mitigating measures (such
as physical barriers) have been implemented, and when individuals who are
outdoors are a minimum of 6 feet apart. When practicable, school district
personnel supervising students shall schedule mask breaks outdoors.
Decision-Making Tree - Face Covering Exemptions
USE OF FACE COVERINGS IN SCHOOL Page 5 of 11
FACE COVERING
MEDICAL/HEALTH EXEMPTION FORM
COVID-19 is a highly contagious virus that spreads by respiratory droplets released when
individuals talk, cough or sneeze. Many individuals infected with COVID-19 are
asymptomatic and contagious. Federal and state public health agencies, including the
United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), recommend that
individuals wear a face covering to limit the spread of COVID-19.
The Connecticut State Department of Education and Colchester Public Schools require
ALL students, beginning in kindergarten, to wear face coverings during the school day.
Any student seeking a medical exemption to the face covering requirement must have
the student’s treating physician complete the below Medical/Health Exemption Form.
As noted below, Colchester Public Schools will consult with the student’s treating
physician to determine what reasonable accommodations, if any, would allow the
student to wear a face covering during the school day. In light of the significant public
health and safety requirements, the Colchester Public Schools require that any request
for medical exemption be completed and submitted to the Director of Pupil Services and
Special Education.
Students submitting requests for medical exemption are subject to COVID-19
containment strategies pending the completion of the exemption review process.
COVID-19 containment strategies may include assignment to home-based remote
learning to mitigate the possibility of infection to the student or others in the physical
school building.
Name of Child:_______________________ Date of Birth:_________________________
Address of Child: _________________________________________________________
Name of Parent(s):_________________________________________________________
Address of Parent(s):________________________________________________________
USE OF FACE COVERINGS IN SCHOOL Page 6 of 11
(if different from child)
Contact Information for Treating Physician
Name:___________________________________________________________________
Address:__________________________________________________________________
Phone:_______________________ Fax:__________________ Email:________________
THE COLCHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS RESERVES THE RIGHT TO DENY MASK EXEMPTION REQUESTS
WITHOUT SUFFICIENT INFORMATION TO DETERMINE THE HEALTH-RELATED NECESSITY OF SUCH
REQUEST.
I HEREBY CONSENT TO SCHOOL OFFICIALS OF THE COLCHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS CONSULTING
WITH THE ABOVE-NAMED TREATING PHYSICIAN IN CONNECTION WITH THE REQUEST FOR A
MEDICAL EXEMPTION FROM WEARING A FACE COVERING DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. I
UNDERSTAND THAT MY CHILD’S TREATING PHYSICIAN IS AUTHORIZED TO EXCHANGE
HEALTH/MEDICAL AND EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION RELATED TO THE FACE COVERING
MEDICAL EXEMPTION REQUEST SUBMITTED ON BEHALF OF MY CHILD,
________________________ [NAME OF STUDENT], WITH THE COLCHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS . I
UNDERSTAND THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE EXCHANGE OF SUCH INFORMATION IS TO
DETERMINE WHETHER A MEDICAL EXEMPTION IS NECESSARY AND/OR WHETHER THERE ARE
ANY REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN CONNECTION WITH
USE OF FACE COVERINGS IN SCHOOL Page 7 of 11
THE FACE COVERING EXEMPTION REQUEST. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS AUTHORIZATION WILL
EXPIRE ON JUNE 30, 2021, UNLESS I REVOKE THIS AUTHORIZATION AT AN EARLIER TIME BY
SUBMITTING WRITTEN NOTICE OF THE WITHDRAWAL OF CONSENT. I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
HEALTH/MEDICAL RECORDS, ONCE SHARED WITH THE COLCHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WILL BE
EDUCATION RECORDS UNDER FEDERAL EDUCATION RECORD LAWS (FERPA) AND MAY NOT BE
PROTECTED BY THE HIPAA PRIVACY RULE. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT REFUSAL TO CONSENT TO
THE EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION DESCRIBED ABOVE WILL NOT AFFECT ACCESS TO
HEALTHCARE.
________________________________________ _________________________
PRINT NAME DATE
PARENT/GUARDIAN
________________________________________
SIGNATURE
PARENT/GUARDIAN
The section below must be completed by the student’s treating physician to verify a health or
medical reason that prohibits the student from wearing a face covering in the school building
and/or on school grounds or to identify possible accommodations for the student to wear a face
covering within the school building or on school grounds. Upon completion, this form must be
USE OF FACE COVERINGS IN SCHOOL Page 8 of 11
provided by the treating physician directly to the Colchester Public Schools, care of The Director
of Pupil Services and Special Education at 380 Norwich Avenue, Colchester CT 06415.
The treating physician MUST consult with school health supervisory personnel prior to
completing this form. The contact information for the school health supervisory personnel for
this matter (COVID-19 Liaison at Colchester Public Schools) is: The Director of Pupil Services and
Special Education.
Medical Verification
Yes No
I have consulted with school health supervisory personnel regarding the student’s ability to
wear a face covering due to a verified medical or health reason.
After consultation with school health supervisory personnel, I have determined that reasonable
accommodations would permit the student to wear a face covering for parts or all of the school
day. ______YES ______NO
If yes, to the above question:
I have determined that the following reasonable accommodations would permit the
student to wear a face covering during the school day (examples include, without
limitation, face covering breaks at specified intervals, use of face shield when a face
covering is contraindicated, use of bandana or looser fitting face covering):
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
USE OF FACE COVERINGS IN SCHOOL Page 9 of 11
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
After consultation with school health supervisory personnel, I have determined that the student
cannot wear a face covering during the entire school day due to a verified medical or health
reason. _____YES _____NO
The student has been diagnosed with the following medical condition(s) that prevent the
student from wearing a face covering at all times during the school day:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
* Documentation supporting the above diagnosis MUST be submitted to the Colchester Public
Schools along with this Medical Verification Form.
By signing below, I verify that the above information is accurate to the best of my professional
knowledge.
____________________________________ ____________________
Signature of Treating Physician Date
USE OF FACE COVERINGS IN SCHOOL Page 10 of
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____________________________________ ____________________
Print Name of Treating Physician CT License No.
USE OF FACE COVERINGS IN SCHOOL Page 11 of
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