South Orange-Maplewood Schools Lift Indoor K-12 Mask Mandate Effective March 14

• Access the full letter which offers “mask option” guidelines and “mask option” survey results which were sent to the parent/guardian, staff and middle/high school communities here:  bit.ly/3tL12nw
  

[Editor’s Note: Below is the full letter:]

Good Afternoon South Orange & Maplewood School District Community,

Click the link  to view full SOMSD’s “Indoor Mask Optional” survey results: bit.ly/3hRqO3Z

Dear SOMSD Community,

Based on the updated guidance from the NJDOH and in collaboration with our local health departments, the South Orange & Maplewood School District will move to a “mask optional” plan in our K-12 schools, buses and district office buildings (PreK school communities will continue with mask mandate, further information can be found on the bottom of page 2). This updated plan is effective Monday, March 14, 2022.  

We want to thank our students, staff, and families for following our mitigation measures over the past year and a half. We know it has not been easy. Thanks to your efforts, we have been able to keep one another safe and continue with in-person learning.  We also thank our staff, parent/guardian and student community for your responses to the “indoor mask option” survey and for your patience and continued support as the District sought to implement the best decisions possible to keep our staff and student community safe.  

The survey results can be found in the link above and below we offer a broad overview of the results, based on three key survey questions:

We will continue to maintain a safe and thoughtful environment for all students and staff. We ask that everyone respect one another’s decision, whether they choose to mask or not. In accordance with district policy, harassment, intimidation, and bullying will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Anyone, including staff or students, who wish to continue wearing a mask will be supported in their choice of doing so. We will encourage our teachers to have conversations with their students around respecting each other’s personal choices.

We encourage parents to discuss your family’s mask choice with your children, as staff will not be monitoring this.  Please put an extra mask in your child’s backpack for the times that they may need to wear them*.    Disposable masks will still be available in the main office of  each school building. 

*Presently, we will continue to require/request masking:

1. During large indoor gatherings including, but not limited to, assemblies, plays, art shows, concerts (strongly suggested)
2. For individuals who are returning to school after COVID-positive isolation on days 6-10 (mandatory)
3. As recommended by the DOH (i.e., significant increased transmission, outbreak)

As a reminder from our 2/22 communication (link: bit.ly/3h9d04g) one of the mitigating strategies to be discontinued when we shift to a “mask optional” environment is contact tracing by K-12 school nurses and administrators. Operationally and logistically, this NJDOH recommendation is no longer sustainable.  This means:

1. Families and school communities would only receive a general notice if a laboratory confirmed COVID positive case is reported within their school community; and schools will no longer direct quarantining of unvaccinated  close contacts (or entire classrooms);
2. Schools will no longer recommend quarantine after travel for unvaccinated individuals;
3. We will continue the practice of recommending isolation of COVID positive individuals and those with ‘COVID-compatible’ symptoms waiting for a test result; 
4. Virtual learning will continue to be offered to students who are:
   1.  Unable to attend school in-person due to testing COVID-positive (or)
   2.  Who have COVID-compatible symptoms and are awaiting test results as well as household members of these individuals.  
5. The school nurses will still be monitoring cases, in partnership with the local DOH who will investigate cases and notify the school district if there is an outbreak. Please continue to report positive COVID test results to your building principal and school nurse.

Please know that the health and safety of everyone in our school buildings is our top priority. As such, we are closely following the recommendations of our state and local health officials.  As these recommendations change, we will adjust our health and safety protocols accordingly. It remains possible that we may need to re-implement our mask policy if the numbers of positive COVID-19 cases in our schools or community increase.  If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your child’s building principal. As always, thank you for your support and understanding.

Sincerely,

South Orange & Maplewood School District