Franklin Township, New Jersey schools are returning to mandatory masking starting Monday.
The Somerset County school district made the announcement via a pop-up on its website.
“As referenced in Superintendent Ravally’s letter last week and in consultation with the Somerset County Department of Health, effective Monday May 23, 2022, the district will return to its mandatory masking protocol, meaning all staff, students and visitors must wear a mask while inside district buildings and on school buses,” the announcement explains. “This mask requirement also pertains to extra-curricular activities and events held inside district buildings.”
Governor Murphy ended mandatory masking for K-12 students back in March, but school districts were left with the choice of reimposing mandates on their own.
A growing body of evidence points to negative consequences for students who were forced to mask and learn remotely during the pandemic.
