Allow Schools To Decide Need For Mask Mandate, Warren Letter Says

WARREN, NJ — Warren School Officials sent a letter asking Gov. Phil Murphy to get rid of the statewide mask mandate and instead allow districts to make decisions based on local conditions.

The resolution was unanimously passed by the Warren Township Board of Education during Monday night's meeting. It reads that the board "requests that the State provide local, fact-specific masking requirements based on publicly available data rather than a statewide mask mandate."

A number of residents spoke out against masking children during the meeting with one saying it will impact the education level a student will receive and impact their ability to see enunciation when a teacher speaks.

Several parents also spoke out in favor of masks with one parent saying, "School is supposed to be a place to go for a safe environment."

Warren School Board will be following the state's mandate. Murphy announced on Aug. 7 that all New Jersey students, educators, staff and visitors must wear face masks in school buildings - regardless of vaccination status - when the new school year begins in September, at least to start the year. Read More: NJ K-12 Students Must Wear Masks This Fall, Gov. Murphy Says

See below to watch the Warren Board of Education meeting:

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