Lacey School District Releases Reopening Plan

LACEY, NJ — The Lacey Township Board of Education held a special meeting Monday to approve the district’s health and safety guidance for the upcoming school year.

The district's reopening plan was based on health recommendations from the New Jersey Department of Education.

The full document was sent to parents and has been posted on the district's website.

The guidance, which includes information about vaccinations, mask protocols and physical distancing, was adopted after a 5-2 vote with board members Kim Klaus and Harold "Skip" Peters voting against it.

During the meeting, superintendent Vanessa Clark addressed parents’ frustration over executive order 251 which requires all staff, students, volunteers and visitors inside any district building to wear face masks with limited exceptions.

“We are required to comply with this mandate whether we agree with it or not,” Clark said.

Individuals seeking a specific medical exemption from mask-wearing must produce written documentation from a medical professional to support the exemption. All documentation should be forwarded directly to building principals.

Principals will continue to monitor the heat each day, especially in September and October, as they did at the end of the 2020-21 school year and communicate with the district office on days where indoor conditions will warrant the optional use of masks.

Clark said a common question among parents has been, “What happens if a student comes to school without a mask?”

In this situation, a mask would be provided to the student unless they have a medical exemption. If the student refuses to wear the mask, the district will contact their parents. Once notified, parents can either provide a mask or the student will be asked to return home.

The same protocol will be implemented at bus stops.

The district is creating an FAQ containing other commonly asked questions that will be similar to one published last year when schools reopened amid the pandemic. The FAQ will be posted on the website Thursday and updated regularly.

Additional questions about the reopening plan or the email that was sent out can be directed to ltsdreopening@laceyschools.org .

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