Chatham Board Plans For Mask-Optional Schools By March 7

CHATHAM, NJ — On the heels of Gov. Phil Murphy’s announcement on Monday to end the state’s mask mandate in schools beginning March 7, members of the School District of the Chathams Board of Education said they plan to begin making policy changes for a mask-optional district.

The board met on Monday night and discussed the process of how to update its mask-wearing policy.

Superintendent Michael LaSusa said with the district closed for break the last week of February, it would leave 14 school days remaining until March 7 for students and staff to stay masked, should the board vote in favor of updating its masking policies.

“I don’t think I’m talking out of turn when I say it’s the sentiments of the board, we would move to a mask-optional environment in all buildings, in all grade levels, effective March 7 when the order expires,” LaSusa said.

The board had originally planned on a mask-optional environment in July, before Murphy's Executive Order.

The board’s Policy Committee plans to meet on Wednesday night. LaSusa said that is when the committee expects to begin the process to update the district's mask policy to reflect “optionality at all levels.”

Board President Jill Critchley Weber said she had received emails before Monday's meeting asking why the district was not able to make the switch right away, following Murphy's announcement. She explained to meeting attendees Murphy's Executive Order and the consequences for breaking it — which could include loss of state aid — stay in effect until March 7.

Weber said she sympathized with families and students who are fearful of unmasking or being around others who could be unmasked, should the board vote for the policy change.

“For some folks, for some of our students, it’s terrifying to remove the mask, but we have to move on,” Weber said.

The remaining four weeks of the mask mandates could help families who need to prepare for the change. She also said it could allow for parents who had previously not chosen to vaccinate their children, extra time to decide if they would like COVID-19 vaccinations.

Board member Bradley Smith said procedurally, the policy change needs to be adopted by the board after the policy’s second reading. Members will vote on it at the Feb. 28 meeting, Smith said.

“That’s a process we have to get through,” Smith added. “We can’t just make that change without that process.”

Michelle Clark, one of the other board members, spoke words of encouragement during the meeting.

“We can do this in 14 days, we’ve made it this far,” she said.

Clark said the district will support all students and families throughout the transition, whether they decide to mask or unmask their students, once the mask-optional policy takes effect.

Watch the full discussion among board members below:

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