Schools
Mask Option Begins March 7 In Sparta Schools: Superintendent
The district is waiting for more information from New Jersey's Department of Health for its next steps, Superintendent Matthew Beck said.
SPARTA, NJ — Sparta Township Public Schools Superintendent called Gov. Phil Murphy’s announcement of the mask mandate lift for schools “encouraging.”
In one of two messages on Tuesday to families, Superintendent Matthew Beck wrote that masks would be optional in Sparta schools beginning March 7.
The school district, however, is not ready yet to make an announcement about how it plans to lift the mandate, according to Beck's first letter sent to families on Tuesday afternoon.
Find out what's happening in Hopatcong-Spartawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
"More information will be forthcoming as it pertains to matters surrounding the lifting of masks, such as contact tracing and quarantine protocols," Beck wrote in his clarification message. "Additionally, we will be working to ensure masking choices are respected."
Before Murphy’s Executive Order for mask mandates was put into place in August, the district relaxed masking for its summer programs. In June, Beck had told families that the school district aimed for a mask-optional environment for the 2021-2022 school year.
Find out what's happening in Hopatcong-Spartawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Beck wrote to Patch in an email on Tuesday that the Board of Education will not need to take formal action, except if New Jersey's Department of Health made the board update its Safe Return to School plans.
"Once the NJDOH [Department of Health] releases their guidance we will have a much better idea on what steps need to be taken and when," Beck wrote in his email.
His letter to families stated that the Board of Education’s Return to School Committee and "other key stakeholders" need to meet, “before making an official detailed announcement of how our district will implement the lifting of the mask mandate.”
“As you can imagine, there are many details and surrounding protocols that need to be addressed as the mandate gets lifted and we want to ensure we have addressed all questions and concerns before releasing details,” Beck wrote.
The Board of Education is scheduled to meet next on Feb. 24.
Click here for Beck’s letter to families on Tuesday.
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