Westfield Schools To Go Maskless Monday With 'Limited Exceptions'

WESTFIELD, NJ — Ahead of Westfield Public Schools transitioning to a mask-optional policy on Monday, Superintendent Raymond González sent out a series of updates on COVID protocols for the district in an announcement Wednesday.

In addition to mask wearing becoming optional in schools starting Monday, students will also have the option to wear masks on school buses, as per new guidance from the state. González said the majority of guidance will remain unchanged, but the district will implement a "Test to Stay" program, which is new for the Schools.

González said masks inside schools and on school buses will be optional with the following "limited exceptions.

Masks may be required:

• During periods of elevated community transmission – when the COVID-19 Activity Level Index (CALI) is elevated, the NJDOH recommends universal masking in regions with:
  • CALI score of High (Orange) – Schools should strongly consider universal masking for all students and staff, especially if there is difficulty incorporating other layered prevention strategies (e.g., adequate ventilation, adequate spacing of students).
  • CALI score of Very High (Red) – Schools should require universal masking for all students and staff.

Masks will be required:

• When illness occurs in school – Students or staff who become ill with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 while in school will wear a mask until they leave the premises.
• After returning from isolation or quarantine – Students and staff who return to school during days 6-10 of isolation or quarantine will be required to mask.
• During Test to Stay (TTS) – This allows asymptomatic close contacts who meet the criteria for quarantine and do not test positive for COVID-19 to continue in-person learning.

González said home-based tests, including self-tests, can be used for Test to Stay purposes. Students should be tested immediately following notification of being a close contact. After the first negative home test result, the student may continue to attend in-person classes if they remain asymptomatic. On day 5, the student takes another test.

On days 1 and 5, the parent must provide a letter or email attesting to the date/time the test was taken and the result of the test.

If the final test result is negative, no further testing is required. Students will continue to follow additional precautions through day 10. Close contacts who return to school via the TTS protocol will be required to wear a well-fitting mask indoors for the duration of the 10 days following exposure.

If a student tests positive for COVID during the TTS period, the student will be immediately excluded from in-person classes for the recommended isolation period. In addition, if close contacts develop any COVID symptoms during the TTS timeframe, they should remain home and contact the school for further guidance.

To facilitate a smooth transition, González said all other mitigation measures will remain in place while the district closely monitors the COVID activity in the schools in the days and weeks ahead.

"March 7 marks a major change in our overall mitigation strategy against the spread of COVID-19 since returning to school in September 2020," González said. "Given that the reactions and opinions may vary greatly about this decision, it is imperative that we continue to speak as families and as a learning community with our students about respecting personal choices."

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