Masks Optional On South Brunswick School Buses: Superintendent

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — Following changes to federal mandate, masks are now optional in school buses and vans in South Brunswick, Superintendent Scott Feder said Monday.

During the Board of Education meeting last Thursday, Feder announced that masks will be made optional for students and staff, after March 7, when the statewide school mask mandate is set to expire. Read More: Masks Optional In South Brunswick Schools After March. 7

There wasn’t much clarity on masking in buses because federal mandates for masking had not changed.

But late Friday afternoon, the Centers for Disease Control and Protection (CDC), announced new mask guidance, saying it "does not require wearing of masks on buses or vans operated by public or private school systems, including early care and education/childcare programs."

These guidelines were for communities where COVID-19 cases were on the decline.

Feder said last week the school district was still working on specifics on COVID protocols and masking. The updated policies will be shared with the community later in the week, Feder said Monday.

Prior to CDC’s new guidance, NJ students still had to mask up on school buses.

On Monday, Gov. Phil Murphy said students can stop wearing masks on buses.

"School districts should continue to require masking on buses until March 7, when the state's in-school mandate ends. We are pleased that the federal government has taken action that will align bus protocol with the mask requirement for New Jersey schools," Murphy spokeswoman Alyana Alfaro said.

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