Virtual Meetings To Remain At Hillsborough Schools After Mask Issues

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — To avoid any further conflict with residents over masking, the Hillsborough Board of Education meetings will remain virtual until Gov. Phil Murphy's lift on the mask mandate goes into effect.

Board President Paul Marini made the announcement at the Feb. 17 special meeting after unmasked residents forced the shut down of Monday night's meeting.

Murphy's lift on the statewide school mask mandate will end on March 7. Then Hillsborough school board's March 14 meeting will return to in-person.

"I would say that in the future when we are in a similar situation that residents take their concerns to their state representatives and not to their local nonpartisan school boards who can not affect the change that is being fought for," said Marini.

Marini reminded residents "the board is a collection of residents who have volunteered their time who have agreed to accept and follow the rules that are set forth."

"This is a no-win situation for all involved and it prevents us from making progress as it relates to the school district and our children," said Marini.

At Monday's meeting, shouting, yelling, and fighting consumed the school board as audience members were asked to put on masks. Despite Marini's multiple attempts to ask residents to comply with the executive order the board voted to end the meeting. Read More: Unmasked Residents Shut Down Hillsborough School Board Meeting

This prompted the virtual special meeting on Thursday.

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