Masks In NJ Schools: Here's Who May Be Wearing Them In The Fall

TRENTON, NJ — Gov. Phil Murphy reiterated his position that New Jersey students and staff likely still be wearing masks when the 2021-22 school year starts in September, but he did offer wiggle room for high school students and others who already have been vaccinated.

Murphy, speaking during his Wednesday news conference, first acknowledged that his statements were predictions and that a lot could change by early September.

“My guess is we’re likely to be masked, for the simple reason that only a couple weeks ago were we able to get 12- to 15-year-olds vaccinated,” Murphy said in reply to a reporter’s question about letters from two Ocean County school districts urging him to drop the mask mandate.

Murphy did note that most high schoolers will have been long vaccinated by the time the fall arrives because those 16 and older have been able to get vaccinated since the start.

"Someone asked me this morning another good question inside of that: Do you think you can lift them in high schools before younger ages because the high school kids, by definition, will have been vaccinated or will have had more time on the clock?" he said. "The answer to that would be yes."

Murphy said he's hoping that New Jersey will be able to lift the mask order for all school children as soon as possible.

"The trials out there look like they're going well," he said. "Do I anticipate that we'll get to a day where we're not wearing masks? Yes. Do I want that to happen? Absolutely, safely and responsibly."

The governor spoke to the issue after the Toms River Regional Schools Board of Education sent Murphy a letter Tuesday asking him to drop the mask mandate for students and staff in the fall.

"We've gone above and beyond with measures including desk dividers, additional PPE, air purifiers and, of course, a mask mandate. … projecting to September, we believe masks are unnecessary," board president Joseph Nardini wrote. Read more: Toms River School Board Urges Murphy To End In-School Mask Rule

In nearby Berkeley Township, Triantafillos Parlapanides, superintendent of the Central Regional School District, also has urged Murphy to end the mask requirement, but he would like to see it gone for the rest of this school year “so that students can breathe and that at graduation, parents can see their child's face." Read more: Central Reg. Superintendent Wants Mask Mandate To End In Schools

“It’s May 26 and we’re trying to predict what school looks like on Sept. 5,” Murphy said. “Do I anticipate we will get to a day at some point where we are not wearing masks? Yes. Do I want that to happen? Absolutely. Safely and responsibly. I don’t know when.”

Parents have been clamoring at school board meetings for districts to ignore the mask mandate and let children quit wearing them in school. Some parents have called the masks child abuse.

Others have questioned the reason for children wearing masks in schools while mask mandates are being lifted in restaurants, bars and stores.

“Is it not ridiculous that we could go out to a bar drinking and socializing and having a good time, and our children have to wear masks at their desks?” one parent asked the Toms River school board on May 19.

Murphy said the difference is the lack of a vaccine for younger children.

“We know thank God we have lost very few young precious lives, but that doesn’t mean young people haven’t been able to get it or transmit it,” Murphy said. “There’s no vaccine yet that’s approved for under the age of 12.”

Murphy said the delay on lifting mask mandates in schools is not about convincing parents to get their children the COVID-19 vaccines.

“It might have that effect but that’s not the reason for me,” he said. “It’s basically following the guidance from the health professionals and the CDC. It’s far more about safety and responsibility.

State Sen. James Holzapfel and Assemblymen Gregory McGuckin and John Catalano announced Tuesday they are sponsoring a bill that would remove the mask mandate and allow parents to make the decision for their children.

“There is no justification for forcing kids to remain masked,” Holzapfel said. “Children and young people are less likely to be impacted by the virus, and they generally have mild cases if they do become infected. The masks are overkill at this point. Ultimately, parents should have a choice as to whether or not their child wears a mask in school.”

Murphy said he had not seen the bill but reiterated that the state “is following science and health experts on masking and frankly everything else in this pandemic.”

“We don't want to have kids or anybody in a school setting with masks on any longer than we have to, but if we think we have to to have them safely and responsibly back to school, then we will do it,” Murphy said. “It is not forever and for always.”

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