The State of New Jersey is a leading state with our vaccination rates and mask policies to protect our citizens - including children under the age of 12 who are unable to be vaccinated, as well as those who are immunosuppressed and have conditions that prevent them from being vaccinated. 

With emerging data surrounding positivity rates for states without mask mandates in schools, coupled with the CDC mask guidance and the rates of children who are ending up hospitalized, we must protect our children and valuable school personnel. Since all of our school buildings were recently updated with HVAC systems and next week's temperatures are predicted to be in the 70s or 80s, this policy does not make sense and endangers our children and school staff.  Beyond social distancing, it is the only way we can protect our children under 12, school staff and those who are unable to be vaccinated from contracting COVID. 

This policy is reckless and contradicts CDC guidance, Governor Murphy and Commissioners Persichilli's and Allen McMillan's policies that are intended to keep our children and school personnel safe. I shudder to think about our children and valuable school staff being put at risk and having New Jersey and specifically Toms River spotlighted like Florida and Texas for our children's COVID rates and potential deaths. Please reconsider the Toms River optional school mask policy for the welfare, safety and well-being of our children and school personnel.