June 11, 2021


Dear School Community Member:

Good afternoon. As you may be aware, Governor Murphy recently communicated through Twitter and press conference guidance regarding the impact of extensive heat and related health issues that may impact students and staff in their wearing of masks in schools. Specifically, on June 7, 2021, Governor Murphy stated that: “current masking requirements do include exceptions for cases of extreme heat in outdoor settings and for situations indoors or outdoors where wearing a mask would inhibit the individual’s health” and that “school officials are empowered to relax masking among students and staff in their buildings, given extreme weather conditions.” When asked to clarify, the Governor further stated, on June 9, 2021, that extreme heat could present a health risk for students or educators, which could be deemed as a qualifying exception to the mask-wearing requirement of Executive Order No. 175.
 
After consulting with the Board’s attorney and conducting a thorough review of Executive Order No. 175 and Governor Murphy’s recent statements, I have confirmed that the heat exception to the mask requirement of Executive Order No. 175 generally does not apply to the interior of temperature-controlled classrooms. As 100% of the classrooms in the district are air conditioned, the recent heat wave has not had an impact on classroom temperatures. Accordingly, the mask wearing requirement of Executive Order No. 175 remains generally applicable within district classrooms. Subject to the general requirement of Executive Order No. 175, any students who experience significant difficulty wearing a mask in a classroom due to a disability or other documented health condition may remove their mask, if and as necessary.
 
Thank you for your continued support and cooperation as we conclude this extraordinary school year in a safe and successful manner. 

Please feel free to reach out to me directly if you have any questions.

Have a nice weekend.

Sincerely,

Robert M. Gamper, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools