Masks Required And No Remote Option For Maplewood Back To School

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — After a school year in which Maplewood and South Orange students didn't return to school until the second half of the year, Superintendent Ronald Taylor said Wednesday that remote learning will not be an option when the schools reopen in early September.

Because kids won't be able to distance, he said, masks and other "mitigation measures" like desk shields will be required.

This week, the Maplewood Township Committee also voted to mandate mask-wearing in its public buildings because of the rise in the Delta variant. READ MORE: Masks To Be Required In Maplewood Buildings

School will reopen on Sept. 9 for certain grades and Sept. 10 for the rest (as explained below).

Here is the communication from Taylor:

August 4, 2021

Dear SOMSD Community,

The state of NJ and the NJ Department of Education has mandated that every NJ Public school district will reopen schools to in-person instruction for all students for the 2021-22 school year, returning to pre-Covid normal school days that will include lunch and that will address the needs of ALL students. A brief video presentation led by Superintendent Dr. Ronald G. Taylor along with Julie Porter, SOMSD Lead Nurse provides high-level information to help families prepare for the fall 2021 return to school.

• Watch the “Safe Return to School” video presentation: https://youtu.be/-rrCSHbpVv8
• View/Download the “Safe Return to School” PPT presentation: https://bit.ly/3Ac4NUq
• Haga clic aquí para leer la carta en español: https://bit.ly/3xtsFkK
• Klike la pou li lèt la an kreyòl ayisyen: https://bit.ly/3xpZA9Y

As the District Reopening Task Force continues to work on finalizing and fleshing out the nuanced details of our September reopening, the District is solely following state guidelines (with input from our local health department), and unless the mandate changes, we are moving forward with preparation to have all students in school full-time (five days a week). Below are the key points highlighted in the “Fall 2021 Safe Return to School” presentation:

• We are planning for full-day, five-day a week in-person instruction, with normal pre-Covid school hours;
• All students will be back for full-time, in-person instruction for the 2021-2022 school year (no cohorts will be in place);
• Parents or guardians will not be able to opt children out of in-person instruction as allowed for the 2020-2021 school year;
• All students and staff will be required to wear masks indoors regardless of vaccination status;
• Because we cannot maintain a social distance of 3-6 feet (one strategy to mitigate virus transmission) and still offer full-day in-person instruction, we will prioritize on other mitigating strategies, including masking and desk partitions where feasible;
• Screening testing: Unless directed by the DOH, screening testing will not be mandated. COVID-19 testing site information will be posted on the district website, and available at COVID19.nj.gov. The District has investigated the availability of mobile testing units and home Covid test kits for voluntary use and will provide the community with updates if confirmed;
• Parents/Guardians will be asked to e-sign the 2021-22 SY Parent Agreement Letter of Compliance with COVID-19 Guidelines, deadline, September 17 (a separate email will follow in the coming weeks); and
• Schools will reopen on September 9th: Grades PreK-7/9 and September 10th: Grades 8/10-12.

A more detailed return to school guidebook will be provided to families before school reopens for the fall. Continue to enjoy the summer and be safe.

South Orange & Maplewood School District

COVID And New Jersey

Medical professionals sayd the vaccine is 95 percent effective against the virus — and for those who still get it, it reduces the chance of hospitalization and death. But many people are still unvaccinated, and the Delta variant of the virus spreads more easily than others.

Children under 12 still cannot be vaccinated.

Read more:

'Breakthrough' COVID-19 Cases, Deaths In NJ: Here's What To Know

I Was A COVID Breakthrough Case. I Nearly Died: Middletown Woman

COVID Hospitalizations Spike In NJ As Delta Variant Spreads

Four Things To Know About The Delta Variant Of Coronavirus In NJ

NJ Mom Urges: Please Listen To COVID Long-Haulers

No Mask Mandate For NJ Students This Fall

As of this week, more than 610,000 Americans have now died from COVID (see which states have the highest recent death rates here).

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