TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON—Days after Westwood regional K-12 trustees offered contrasting views on the district’s quarantine protocols for the unvaccinated and un-boosted, newly appointed superintendent of schools Dr. Jill Mortimer wrote families with an update on K-12 Covid cases.
She also followed through on a free-to-families “courtesy” program she had settled on, as offered by the state health department: Test to Stay, which requires registration and every-other-day testing at the middle school, among other restrictions, that allows more exposed kids to stay in their classrooms.
On Feb. 3, Mortimer said, “Fortunately our numbers have trended significantly downward. I wish everyone a quick recovery. I sincerely hope you and your family members are well.”
The case count she shared:
- Jan. 1–7: 282
- Jan. 8–14: 149
- Jan. 15–21: 100
- Jan. 22–28: 48
- Jan. 29–Feb. 2: 28
Mortimer said, “The District will start our Test to Stay program, which will enable unvaccinated close contacts, with no Covid symptoms, to attend school provided they have a negative rapid Covid test result every other day of their five-day quarantine time.”
Testing is available on school days in the Westwood Regional Middle School cafeteria, 7 to 8:30 a.m., from Monday, Feb. 7 “at least through the end of February. Only students who test through our program are eligible for the Test to Stay option. This program is an option the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) affords to school districts,” she said.
She added, “Parents should bring their students to the testing location, along with their identification and health insurance card. A brief televisit will be conducted via a laptop, and then students will be individually tested.”
Mortimer said the results take 15–20 minutes, “and the parent/child is asked to wait in the cafeteria or their car if they prefer. A paper result will be provided, and that result should be provided to the school nurse immediately upon entry to the school. There are no out-of-pocket fees or co-pays.”
She said, “All students and staff must be registered in order to participate in the testing program. Parking in the school’s lot will not be permitted, as those spaces are reserved for staff. Please park on the school side of Third Avenue in front of the residential homes, not in front of the school. Enter door #5 and look for the signage.
Mortimer said more information on Diligent Urgent Care is available on the district’s Covid page.
Unvaccinated staff are invited to participate as well so they have the needed weekly documentation for HR.
Mortimer said participation in TTS modified quarantine protocol is limited to unvaccinated/not fully vaccinated Pre-K–12 students who:
- Do not have any signs or symptoms of Covid-19.
- Meet the criteria of a close contact of a confirmed Covid-19 case where the exposure occurred in a school setting and both case and contact were observed to be fully masked at time of exposure.
- TTS is not applicable to exposures that occur outside of school or in the community (e.g., in a household, recreational sports team, social activity).
- Are able and willing to follow the below modified quarantine and testing protocols with parental consent (if applicable).
- Are not exempt from masking under EO 251.
Individuals, vaccinated or not, who have been positive have a 90-day grace period without testing and may remain in school even if they are a close contact.
NJDOH Test to Stay Protocol
Eligible students/staff participating in TTS program must adhere to the following protocols:
- Wear a mask indoors and outdoors at all times when at school (except for eating/drinking) for the entirety of the Test to Stay program (up to and including the last day of the recommended quarantine even if all test results are negative).
- The mask should fit securely over the nose and mouth.
- When masks are removed for eating/drinking, it’s imperative that students should be at least 6 feet from other students. “Please know this means your child may be able to be identified as being unvaccinated, as not all children are spaced 6 feet apart while eating.”
- Quarantine when not at school and refrain from all extracurricular activities.
- Exception: Students may participate in school extracurricular activities that take place in a structured (e.g., classroom) indoor or outdoor setting where masking and physical distancing can be strictly adhered to and enforced.
- Monitor for symptoms daily until 14 days after their last exposure to Covid-19.
- Comply with the TTS testing protocol.
NJDOE Testing Frequency
Students/staff should be tested immediately following the notification of being a close contact. If notification occurs after school hours, the student should be tested the following morning at school prior to attending in-person instruction.
After the first negative test result, the student may continue to attend in-person instruction and then submit to testing every other day until the end of the quarantine timeframe with the last test being performed on the final day of quarantine or next school day (if weekend/holiday). If testing would fall on the weekend or a school holiday based on this schedule, testing must occur in school on Monday or the day following the holiday.
If the final test result is negative, no further TTS testing is required; students would be permitted to resume normal activities the day after completing quarantine but should continue to monitor for symptoms through Day 14.
Mortimer said, “Please be patient if there is a line, as this is being provided as a courtesy. Your child will not be marked tardy if there is a delay in getting to school on time as a result of the testing.”
She directed health-related questions or those about Test to Stay to your school nurse. If you have questions or comments about the program or vendor, contact Director of School Programs Mike Kenduck at michael.kenduck@wwrsd.org or call him at (201) 664-0880 ext. 2070.
Lively school board meeting
Eight of nine board members present at the nearly four-hour school board meeting on Jan 27 appeared split on whether to maintain the district’s stay-home quarantine protocol for unvaccinated kids who are exposed, which is based on state Department of Health guidelines.
Trustees weighed in on the rules during an hourlong exchange.
Most members appeared willing to leave the issue for Mortimer to explore and act following consultation with other district professionals, infectious illness professionals, and the board attorney.
Earlier in the meeting, trustees voted, 6-1, to appoint Mortimer as superintendent, knocking the “acting” from her title. (See “New superintendent’s five-year contract: $242K in 2022; $262K in 2026,” Pascack Press, Feb. 5, 2022.)
Voting for were Maureen Colombo, Roberta Hanlon, Joseph McCallister, Kristin Pedersen, Michael Pontillo, and board president Frank Romano III.
Andrea Peck voted no. Board vice president Michelle Sembler abstained. Stacey Price was absent.
Peck, a new board member, said her vote was not “personal” but rather due to her disagreement with the process used by the board to select a superintendent.
She said before she joined the board but would appear at meetings, Mortimer often called her on the phone later to discuss questions and issues she raised.
“She was always very respectful, and professional and informed. This is not a personal decision. I am not making any accusations against anybody sitting here at all, just for my own conscience, I guess, I’m not comfortable that there were not other candidates interviewed and that’s the bottom line for me and that’s all it is,” Peck said.
Romano said several residents had emailed him wondering why the board did not conduct an external search. He said that the board advertised for an interim superintendent six months ago, received nine applications, and evaluated them based on education, experience, and compatibility. Mortimer topped all candidates, he said.
Mortimer’s predecessor, Raymond González, took heat from some in the district — and some who later joined the board — who objected to his relatively restrictive approach to the coronavirus and to what appeared to some as a lack of transparency.
Meanwhile, the state Department of Education notes online that “One of the most basic responsibilities of schools is to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. This is accomplished through a comprehensive program of immunizations, screening and referral, education, and exclusion, if necessary.”
Some trustees suggested a change that would not require unvaccinated students to quarantine at home for five days following an exposure.
Some trustees preferred that the decision to quarantine be left up to parents. Others said they trusted Mortimer and her research.
Pontillo, who is Westwood’s police chief, noted that Mortimer’s Jan. 26 letter said the district would no longer require children over 12 get boosted to be considered vaccinated, which he favored. He said quarantine and vaccine mandates issued by the state were “polarizing.”
He worried that students in quarantine get only a portion of the education received by in-class students and suggested that educators look at virus transmission rates inside and outside school as one scientific measure for assessing Covid risks.
Pedersen said “there’s no one-size-fits all solution” and called for the district “to implement protocols that put the decision-making back with the parents.”
She said if a child is sick, parents should “do the right thing” and keep them home.
Hanlon said she trusted Mortimer’s guidance on quarantines.
Colombo, who chairs the board’s policy and governance committee, said she supported the then-current policy, noting, “I think we’re all working toward the same goal.”
Peck said she was “comfortable” in letting Mortimer determine quarantine protocols, but noted if a child is in close contact with a Covid-positive person, the parents should get options for remote schooling and returning to school.
Editors note: Mortimer’s Feb. 3 letter arrived at press time, requiring a substantial update to this school board story. See the Jan. 27 meeting video for the full conversation.