Masks Will Be Optional in Toms River Regional School District Beginning March 7
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February 10, 2022
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February 10, 2022Masks Will Be Optional in Toms River Regional School District Beginning March 7
Mask Mandate Ends March 7
Students and employees at Toms River Regional Schools will decide on whether or not to wear masks in the school buildings on March 7.
During Wednesday night's committee meetings of the regional district's Board of Education, which serves Toms River, Beachwood, South Toms River, and Pine Beach, the board announced its decision to make masks optional. When the statewide mask rule in schools is eliminated on March 7, Interim Superintendent Stephen Genco stated the district will be mask optional."When I first came on (as superintendent), I said we'd follow the governor's mandates, however I'd prefer to be mask optional and make those choices be choices the parents could have," said Genco, who took over as interim superintendent on Aug. 1, not long before Gov. Phil Murphy mandated masks in schools for the 2021-22 school year.
The mandate will be lifted on March 7th, according to Murphy, because the state Department of Health is observing a significant decrease in the incidence of illnesses and hospitalizations caused by COVID-19.As Superintendent Genco noted publicly last night, we plan to transition to “mask optional” when @GovMurphy 's mandate ends effective March 7. We plan to do so, however, while remaining committed to the health and safety of all individuals, and to that end ... (1/2)
— Toms River Regional Schools (@wearetrschools) February 10, 2022
According to data from the Toms River area, cases have nearly reached their lowest point since last spring.
"Moving to mask optional makes sense," Genco said, "therefore that is what the Toms River school district will do." While many other districts have sent letters expressing their intentions to make masks optional, Genco said he preferred to wait to make a firm announcement because there are still so many concerns to be resolved, including quarantining. According to Genco, the majority of the issues will not be addressed until the state Department of Health publishes its guidance."As always, I'd like to put out one message and I'd like to put it out correct," Genco said. "Once we have that, we certainly will be putting something out to the community, but for now I did want to make that statement because I wanted the community to know the direction we're going."
Before the mandate is repealed, state health authorities said they would provide assistance to school districts "to enable school districts update their policies to fit with the risks and unique needs of their setting and student population to guarantee safe learning environments."
