Schools
Woodbridge Schools Will Make New Decision On Masks In August
The Woodbridge school district may change course and require students wear masks this fall in light of the CDC's change in recommendations.
WOODBRIDGE, NJ — Woodbridge public school parents, prepare: The Woodbridge school district may change course and require students wear masks this fall in light of the CDC's change in recommendations on Tuesday.
Woodbridge schools superintendent Joe Massimino said Wednesday morning he is waiting for further guidance from Gov. Murphy, and the state Dept. of Education and Dept. of Health, and will make a decision for the fall in mid- to late-August.
Late Tuesday afternoon, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, issued brand-new guidance recommending that even vaccinated Americans wear masks in indoor, public spaces and also that all K-12 students wear masks to school. She said this as the Delta variant is currently spreading very quickly throughout the nation, sickening mostly the unvaccinated. However, there have been thousands of "breakthrough" cases among those who are vaccinated.
Find out what's happening in Woodbridgefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
As of July 1, Woodbridge schools had said that masks were optional for summer school programs and that the masks-optional policy would likely carry over to the fall.
However, in light of Tuesday's announcement, superintendent Massimino said a new decision on masks will be made in mid- to late-August.
Find out what's happening in Woodbridgefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"In light of the CDC’s announcement, our district would like to see what recommendations are made by the Governor, New Jersey Department of Health and New Jersey Department of Education," said Massimino on Wednesday. "The goal is to utilize the most up-to-date information and available data so we can make a decision regarding masks in mid to late August."
Gov. Murphy has yet to announce whether New Jersey students and teachers will be required to wear masks in school, as they were last spring.
Related: Woodbridge Students No Longer Have To Wear Masks In School (July 1)
No Mask Mandate For NJ Students This Fall, Gov. Murphy Says (June 28)
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