Cranford School Board Meeting Moved To 'Digest' New Mask Policy

CRANFORD, NJ — Superintendent Dr. Scott Rubin announced Wednesday that the next Board of Education meeting scheduled for Feb. 28 will be moved back one week, in light of the district's announcement to not require universal masking starting March 7.

The district had previously announced it would enforce masking at the the remaining board meetings in February, including Feb. 28, while the state mask mandate in schools was still in effect. However, Rubin said in an email to the community that the next meeting will be pushed to March 7 in order to "digest the forthcoming information" that the New Jersey Department of Health will be releasing over the next few days.

Cranford Public Schools recently announced it will transition to a "mask optional" policy starting on March 7, in accordance with Gov. Phil Murphy's lifting of the state mask mandate in schools.

Rubin the said the NJDOH is expected to release guidance on masking, among other prevention strategies, as well as guidance on other important related topics like quarantining within the next few days.

At a board meeting in January, controversy ensued when an audience member refused to put on a mask and the meeting was canceled after 30 minutes. As a result, Rubin said the next two meetings would require everyone attending to wear masks, but it is unclear if masks will now be optional at the rescheduled March 7.

Read more: Cranford School Board Will Enforce Masking At Next Two Meetings

"We are committed to keeping our students healthy and in school and we will continue to update the community as we receive additional information," Rubin said in his email.

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