Mask Optional, No Contact Tracing At Watchung Hills Regional High School Beginning March 7

WARREN, NJ — Watchung Hills Regional High School will be shifting to a mask optional policy and stopping contracting effective March 7, the district announced.

"I am very excited to see all of the beautiful smiling faces of our staff and students on March 7 and all of our board members once again. So that will be very nice," said Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth C. Jewett during the Tuesday, Feb. 15 Board of Education meeting.

Jewett noted that the changes, however, could always change at the high school which serves students in Warren, Watchung, Green Brook and Long Hill.

"We feel confident in this approach given the minimal number of cases we, as well as the region, have seen in recent weeks. We will, of course, continue to monitor cases, and if conditions change, we will pivot once again, adjusting our guidelines accordingly," said Jewett.

Board President Robert Morrison noted that the district has been able to stay open throughout the pandemic including the surge of Omicron due to adjustments on their part.

"The health, safety, and wellness of the student, faculty, staff, and administration was our single highest priority in making any decisions. This remains true today," said Morrison at the meeting. "As we take these steps to move into the next phase of the pandemic we can not make any guarantees in regards to what may happen in the future."

These decisions follow Gov. Phil Murphy's announcement last week that the statewide mandate will end on March 7 but left it up to individual school districts and daycare centers to decide if they wish to continue mask requirements afterward if they choose. Read More: Schools Can Extend Mask Mandate, But NJ Requirement Ends In March

People who choose to wear masks may continue to do so. Murphy will extend New Jersey's public-health state of emergency for one more month to allow schools to make the adjustment.

"Our students and staff have shown tremendous adaptability and grit," said Jewett. "While it has been a challenging time, we have kept, and will continue to keep, our students' health and safety and their academic and social-emotional well-being as our central focus."

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