Murphy: We 'Will Take Action' Against Parents' Notes On Masks

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Gov. Phil Murphy appeared to call out the Middletown school district Monday at his weekly press conference, which the governor has resumed now that he's returned from his summer vacation in Italy.

A reporter at the press conference asked Murphy if he was "aware that some school districts, maybe one actually in your backyard, is (sic) effectively circumventing the mask mandate by saying that parents can sign a letter saying it is a burden for their child to be wearing a mask?"

Murphy replied: "I’m aware, including some I notice in my own backyard. I will just say, we will not look kindly upon that and will take the appropriate action in response."

Murphy has lived in Middletown for the past 19 years; he, his wife and children live in a riverfront estate off Navesink River Road.

It is unclear what kind of action the governor is alluding to. His chief spokesman Dan Bryan did not immediately get back to Patch when we asked Monday.

Many New Jersey school districts have asked Murphy to drop his mask mandate, but — as Patch was first to report Friday — the Middletown school district is the only district in the state attempting to bypass the mask mandate altogether: Allowing parents or even the students themselves to submit a note saying the child is inhibited by wearing a mask. The Middletown school district would not require a note from a doctor (in the past, mask wearing was only exempted if the student presented a documented medical condition that makes mask wearing challenging). Middletown Schools May Allow A Parent's Note To Exempt Masks

The Middletown Board of Education will vote on this policy at their meeting Tuesday night.

Here is exactly the language the Middletown BOE will be asked to approve Tuesday night: "The District shall accept an individual or parental testimonial letter as evidence that wearing a mask inhibits an individual's health. Any such letter must describe how wearing a mask specifically affects that individual or student. General statistics or assertions about mask wearing are not acceptable. The District shall accept correspondence from an individual's healthcare provider, without being subject to District Physician review, that wearing a face mask inhibits an individual's health."

As of Monday afternoon, the Middletown BOE appears still prepared to vote on this resolution as it is written. That same resolution also has language in it that prevents Middletown school teachers from knowing a student's COVID vaccine status, or encouraging or discouraging COVID vaccination with students in any way.

The resolution was written by the board's attorney, Bruce Padula, who works for the law firm Cleary, Giacobbe, Alfieri & Jacobs in Matawan. Board members Frank Capone and Jackie Tobacco helped Padula write the resolution.

Padula, Middletown superintendent Mary Ellen Walker and Middletown BOE president Joan Minnuies did not respond when Patch asked if they had a response to Gov. Murphy's comment.

Minnuies, Tobacco and Capone support the resolution as it is written.

The Middletown BOE will vote on this in a public meeting Tuesday night held at High School North Library located at 63 Tindall Road, Middletown, NJ 07748. The public meeting begins at approximately 8:00 p.m.

Although Murphy is one of America's leading Democratic governors, the Middletown area in which his lives is majority Republican, and considered one of the remaining Republican strongholds of New Jersey. A majority of Middletown voted for President Donald Trump in both 2016 and 2020.

Watch Murphy be asked about Middletown's policy and his response at 46:27, right after he talks about Afghan refugees arriving in New Jersey:

Read: Middletown Schools May Allow A Parent's Note To Exempt Masks (Aug. 20)

Middletown BOE May Prohibit Teachers Discussing COVID-19 Vaccine (Aug. 19)

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