Brick Township Public Schools

101 Hendrickson Avenue

Brick, New Jersey 08724
(732)785-3000
www.brickschools.org

PRESS RELEASE

BTPS Advocates for Local Control Regarding Mask Mandate Decision

Brick, New Jersey - This is an open letter to Governor Murphy. The Brick Township Public Schools is
advocating for local control, especially over the issue of mandatory mask wearing in schools. “We
weathered the Pandemic with leadership, collaboration, and communication with all stakeholders of the
District,” stated Brick Township Public Schools Board of Education President, Ms. Stephanie Wohlrab.
“It’s time for the State to return local control to our District and our community.”

Brick Schools, one of the largest public school districts in New Jersey, has effectively collaborated with
teachers, staff, students, parents, and health officials to sustain effective education in their schools in
accordance with all State requirements and Governor’s Executive Orders throughout the Pandemic. Brick
Schools’ “Restart Plan” detailed four phases of entry providing in-person learning and virtual learning:
Phase I Hybrid Model; Phase II 4-Days Per Week In-Person Early Dismissal; Phase III 5-Days Per Week
Early Dismissal; and lastly, Phase IV Full-Day 5-Days Per Week In-Person. This iterative approach with
staging different populations by grade levels has proven effective.

Brick Schools continue to move forward aggressively, yet safely, adhering to all parameters and
requirements of the NJDOE, NJDOH, and the Governor’s Office; as we have since the start of the
Pandemic. This takes substantial effort, patience, and sacrifice from our students, parents, and staff. As
of June 1, BTPS will be back in-person full-day/5-days per week.
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The vast majority of Brick Schools staff has been vaccinated, and continue to be diligent with practicing
the most up-to-date NJDOE/NJDOH/CDC-recommended protocols. As has been the case, Brick Schools
has operated in compliance with all State mandates. However, Brick Schools now believes that we are at
the point when the State masks mandate at schools should be responsibly re-evaluated and left up to local
decision-making.

“At all times, the District proceeded forward, with an eye on the data from the CDC, NJDOH, OCHD,
and NJDOE, to ensure the health and safety of all involved while facilitating the best education possible
for our students,” states Dr. Farrell, Superintendent of Schools for the Brick Township Public School
District. “This evidence-based process, aligned to the data from the NJ COVID-19 NJ Risk Matrix,
provides us the confidence that in Brick Township, our students will be best-served by the State providing
us with the ability to, as a District, responsibly evaluate and implement mask-wearing protocols for staff
and students. I will always advocate for what I believe is in the best interest of our students and staff in
Brick, while understanding our obligations as a public school district to continue to follow regulations and
guidelines”.

Student-Centered, Teacher-Led
“We have forgone much during this pandemic and we cannot surrender the social and emotional health of
our children one day longer,” states Stephanie Wohlrab, BOE President. “While there was once a need
for State mandates and control to ensure the safety of our NJ communities, that stage is over. It is time
for the Governor to return the decision-making authority for our school districts back where it rightfully
belongs - LOCALLY! As BOE Members and District Administrators, we are accountable to ensure high-
quality educational services in a safe, healthy, and nurturing environment. We understand our mission and
have done our jobs effectively and professionally before and during this Pandemic.”

While mask mandates have been lifted in most forums, NJ students and staff are still required to continue
mask wearing in schools. Limiting the ability of school districts to make data-driven, fact-based decisions
that serve the best interests of their learning community goes against everything public education stands
for. It is time to bring our school districts back to a greater degree of normalcy. “The Brick Schools Safe
Restart Plan protocols, developed by our Distinct Restart Committee, and focused on the health and safety
of our students and staff, has enabled Brick Schools to remain open since September 2020 offering hybrid
in-person/virtual learning options, providing administration, parents, and students with data and guidelines
with which to make decisions that safeguard their families and in turn, our community”, said Dr. Farrell.
“As we have from the start, the Brick Schools continues to operate in compliance with all State mandates,
however as statistics regarding the Pandemic continue to trend in a positive direction we encourage the
Governor to consider making mask wearing in schools optional”, continued Farrell.

“I cannot speak to what will work for other districts – We are Brick,” stated President Wohlrab. “But
school districts in New Jersey are operated by locally elected school boards and superintendents working
together with district stakeholders. It is time to once again to let us do what we were elected to do, with
our highly trained, professional staff in place – run our districts with the authority to make decisions in
the best interest of our community.”

For additional information on the news that is the subject of this release, contact our Direct of Planning, Research, and
Evaluation, Ms. Susan McNamara at ext. 1022 or e-mail smcnamara@brickschools.org.

Student-Centered, Teacher-Led