Brick Schools Post Updated COVID-19 Rules For 2021-22 School Year

BRICK, NJ — The Brick Township School District released the district's updated return-to-school plan during the coronavirus pandemic under guidelines from the state, which include an important change for quarantining.

The state mandate that masks be worn in schools by everyone — staff, students and visitors — remains in effect with limited exceptions, as specified in Gov. Phil Murphy's executive orders 251 and 253.

With the state mandate that everyone wear masks in school, state officials also have said the rules surrounding quarantining are changing. If a student tests positive for the coronavirus, students sitting nearby may not automatically be subject to quarantining.

Classes will be in session five days a week for normal school days when classes begin Sept. 8. Read more: Back To School: Brick 2021-22 School Calendar

According to the Brick schools' information, "In the K–12 indoor classroom setting, if both the infected student and the exposed student(s) are wearing well-fitting masks the entire time they were within 3-6 feet of each other, the exposed student:

• will no longer be considered a close contact and therefore
• will no longer be subject to quarantine restrictions."

That exception does not apply to teachers, staff, or other adults in the indoor classroom setting, according to the state Department of Education's guidance.

In addition, when someone is identified as a close contact they can choose to disclose whether or not they are vaccinated, the district guidance says.

The state's current guidance is that those who are vaccinated and those who have recovered from COVID-19 within the past 90 days do not need to quarantine. Those who are not vaccinated must quarantine in accordance with New Jersey's COVID-19 Regional Risk Matrix Activity Level Requirements for quarantine.

There is no option for fully remote, virtual instruction; however, homebound instruction is available for students where it is medically necessary.

Students could be forced to quarantine under specific situations:

• Student who tests positive for COVID-19 (with verification)
• Student who is considered a Close Contact of a COVID-19 Positive Individual, and is placed on quarantine by the district as a result of district contact tracing.
• Student with COVID-19 compatible symptoms and a verified doctor’s note detailing symptoms.

Quarantined students will work independently from home during the school day to complete the posted work.

Quarantined students will be provided with virtual instructional support as follows:

• Opportunity for up to one hour of virtual instructional support per day (two hours per day for special education), outside of the regular classroom time.
• Instruction will be provided, when possible by the student’s teacher(s).
• Students in the same class &/or grade level will be provided instructional support together.

Should the need arise for an entire class to be quarantined, instruction will take place virtually during the regularly scheduled school day.

More information can be found in the Brick Schools' Safe Road Forward Plan.

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