Mask Mandate Could Be Lifted In Chatham Schools: Superintendent

CHATHAM, NJ — The School District of the Chathams Board of Education plans to discuss a potential mask-optional environment for students during its meeting on Monday night, according to the district’s superintendent.

Gov. Phil Murphy announced on Monday that he expects to drop the state mandate on March 7 and leave masking decisions up to each school district.

Superintendent Michael LaSusa told Patch in an email on Monday that in July before Murphy’s executive order “the clear sentiment among the members of the Board of Education was to have a mask optional environment in any grade level with access to vaccination.”

“Now that virtually all students are vaccine eligible and that the state has given the green light to make masks optional in all school and childcare settings, I believe the position of the Board is that masks should be optional in all schools,” LaSusa said.

After the Board of Education discusses it and decides, La Susa said it will take “some policy updates.”

LaSusa expects the board can easily make those changes over the coming weeks, should it decide to move into the mask-optional direction, he said.

Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.