Wyckoff Schools Won't Require Masks For Students Next Semester

WYCKOFF, NJ — Wyckoff Public Schools students won't be required to wear a mask or social distance next semester, a sign that schools are returning to pre-pandemic life in more ways than one.

Superintendent Kerry Postma confirmed that students, visitors and staff won't be required to wear masks in the fall after Gov. Phil Murphy announced that he wouldn't be implementing a statewide mask mandate for the upcoming semester.

Murphy presented updated guidelines for schools at a Monday news conference, in which he announced that schools will be required to provide full-time, in-person learning with no remote option.

"The recommendations we are releasing today will provide school districts with a roadmap to bring students and staff back to safe, enriching school environments," Murphy said. "This guidance will help districts and educators develop plans to meet their student's educational, social, emotional and mental health needs. Our students and educators have displayed amazing resiliency during the pandemic, and I am pleased that the upcoming school year will provide a sense of normalcy that students haven't had since March 2020."

Wyckoff's plan was released on June 21, and revised a few days later, but preempted Murphy's announcement. In addition to no required face coverings, physical distancing won't be mandated, but some things will remain.

There will still be signage prompting students and staff to wash or sanitize their hands, and enhanced cleaning protocols will remain in place. Contact tracing and quarantine periods could remain as well, but will follow state and local health department guidance.

If any student or staff member develops COVID-19 symptoms, they'll be moved to a specified isolation area in the school.

Still, Murphy did announce that some individual decisions would be in play.

Anyone who is comfortable wearing masks will be able to do so, Murphy said. He also said that the state anticipates updated guidance from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) later this summer. The state will consider any updates from the federal agency ahead of the first day of the new school year.

The Department of Education released three documents for districts to follow, including:

• health and safety recommendations that provide strategies to reduce risks to students and staff from COVID-19, while still prioritizing full-time, in-person learning;
• a self-assessment of district readiness to accelerate learning and to provide supportive school climates; and
• a compilation of specific, research-backed priorities and practices accelerating learning.

With reporting from Anthony Bellano.