“To the great relief of many, Governor Hochul announced yesterday that the mask mandate will be lifted for schools on Wednesday. This milestone comes after very encouraging drops in COVID-19 cases and increases in vaccinations. Because of our community’s diligence, we’ve reached the benchmarks recommended by health professionals for the removal of mask requirements. Students may continue to wear masks if they choose, but the day is finally here when smiling faces will again be seen in the classroom.”