Governor Murphy has announced that the current mask mandate for public schools in New Jersey will expire on March 7, 2022. The Shrewsbury Borough School will begin implementing a mask optional policy regardless of vaccination status on March 7 based on forthcoming guidance to be issued by the NJDOH and the NJDOE. The CDC still recommends masks for students in all school and childcare settings. The Shrewsbury Borough School District will continue to follow all of our current COVID-19 protocols and to consult with the MCHD for each and every positive COVID-19 case in our school community.
 
Consistent with Governor Murphy’s announcement on February 7, 2022, the Shrewsbury Borough School District will reserve the right to reinstate a mask requirement at any time if doing so will ensure the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff based on changes in COVID-19 case rates, the percent of CLI (Covid Like Illness), percent positivity, and the state and regional CALI score, local COVID-19 indicators, or based on guidance and recommendations from the MCHD.
 
SBS will continue to purchase and offer barrier masks and N95 masks for students and employees during the school day and for all school-related events.
 
In tandem with our mask optional policy, we will be removing plexiglass desk shields and other plexiglass barriers from classrooms and the school. We will continue to utilize our many cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfection protocols throughout the facility each day to keep our students and staff healthy and safe.
 
Consistent with Governor Murphy’s announcement on February 7, 2022, the Shrewsbury Borough School District will not tolerate any type of discrimination related to students who either choose to wear masks during the school day or who choose not to wear masks during the school day. We will enforce the highest expectations for student conduct and our school will, as Governor Murphy stated, “take swift disciplinary action against those who may try to demean or bully anyone who chooses to wear a mask.”
 
Please see the latest guidance made available to public schools in New Jersey from the NJDOH and the NJCDS: COVID-19 Public Health Recommendations for Local Health Departments fo K-12 Schools - Updated February 22, 2022. As I have mentioned previously, we will continue to consult with the MCHD for the latest guidance and procedures regarding COVID-19 and CLI.