Gov. Kathy Hochul told New York education officials on Tuesday she wants to see a day when a mask mandate for schools is no longer necessary. But when that day is remains a question. 

Hochul met virtually with officials from organizations that represent the state's five largest school districts, as well as superintendents, school boards and the Parent Teacher Association to discuss the state's ongoing mask mandate. 

No date was given for when the mandate would end. Hochul did not provide specific metrics for how state officials would determine an end to the requirement. 

But attendees of the meeting said one week in particular is being watched by state officials: February break.  

"Right now, their thinking is they prefer to wait through the February school break and see if circumstances change, if we have an increase in infections of students after that point," said Robert Lowry, the deputy director of the New York State Council of School Superintendents. "But it was very clear that she said a change in mask requirements is under consideration. And all the communications we've had with the governor's office and the health department, that's been apparent."  

Jay Worona, the general counsel for the New York State School Boards Association, said the governor did not give any defintive statement the week would be crucial to determining if the mask rule ends. 

"She was forecasting this, she didn't definitively tell us, but any decision would probably come after the February break so she could monitor those metrics," he said. 

The meeting was held as multiple states in the Northeast have announced they will end their mask mandates for schools in the coming weeks, including New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. New York has seen a steep decline in COVID-19 cases following a wave brought on by the highly contagious omicron variant. 

"What I got out of is the governor remains committed to following science, not necessarily succumbing to community pressure on one side or the other and wanting to carefully examining the metrics so that human life isn't imperiled in removing a mask mandate," Worona said. 

Hochul on Monday indicated the state's indoor mask mandate for businesses will be altered. The mandate is due to lapse on Thursday. The mandate for schools will not end until Feb. 21, the start of winter break for many school districts.

Health Commissioner Mary Bassett told state lawmakers at a budget hearing on Tuesday morning no decision had been made on the issue. 

Masking in schools has become a heated debate for education leaders, teachers and parents as the pandemic has ground on. The state's indoor mask mandate is facing a legal challenge and was temporarily overturned by a state Supreme Court judge in Nassau County. A stay was placed on the order as New York appeals the decision. 

Hochul in recent weeks has said the case load in New York, along with increasing vaccinations among children who qualify, could be a potential factor in lifting the mandate. 

In the meeting with school officials, Hochul pointed to the unpredictability of the pandemic and especially the omicron variant, which was confimed in New York state in December. 

The meeting also served to communicate the current thinking of the Hochul administration as well as the education organizations. 

"It was a good conversation. No decisions, no sharing of a date, but just a good conversation on what the state is looking for," said Kyle Belokopitsky, the executive director of the New York State PTA. 

As the year has continued, schools have weathered the continued uncertainty of the pandemic, periodic returns to the frustrations of remote learning and the distribution of at-home tests. Many offiicals, along with parents and students, have been hoping for some sort of horizon with the public health crisis.  

"It was hard to begin with even beginning this school year with a lot of optimism and most kids have been able to attend school in person the overwhelming majority of time," said Lowry of the school superintendents organization. "But what's been especially difficult are the growing tensions, frustations that all of us are dealing with."