Update As of 2/25/2020 CDC guidance has changed.
There’s some sort of BS your BOE is giving to you saying that the kids have to be masked due to federal regulations on public transportation. There’s only one problem, other states do not require children to wear masks on the bus because school buses are not considered “public transportation.”
In January 2021, Biden issued an executive order 13998 called “Promoting COVID-19 Safety in Domestic and International Travel” Under that EO, it stated under Mask Requirements that “all forms of public transportation as defined in 49 U.S.C. § 5302” (image above), United States Code.
Even NAPT (National Association for Pupil Transportation) also assumes school buses are not included in Biden’s order.
Its pretty clear at this point, school buses are exempt. However, that didn’t stop the US Department of Transportation to make claim to school buses, referencing an “ORDER” issued by the CDC as reasons why masks are to be worn on school buses.
So its clear, its NOT A LAW, but an ORDER by the CDC, WHO DOES NOT MAKE LAW. The CDC does not make mandates. They are not elected officials.
CDC doesn’t have the authority to force healthy people to wear masks or quarantine. That’s why governor Murphy had to his own dirty work with the mandates. There is a difference between state mandates, federal mandates and CDC recommendations. This is why many schools are participating in “healthy kids stay policy” and not participating in quarantining or testing because its NJDOH and CDC GUIDANCE. NOT LAW. NOT MANDATES.
When Murphy’s mandate ends on the 7th, so does the school bus masking, if your BOE and the private busing company chooses do to so. Don’t let them tell you that they don’t have a choice (like they always do). I feel like this is a sneaky way to get your child to wear a mask once they get to school, I mean if its already on, how likely are they to take it off?
Biden could have included school buses in his transportation order, however, he did not. The districts are going to play this game with you, just like they did in Florida until DeSantis made the anti-mask mandate. The CDC doesn’t make federal law, don’t let the schools districts in NJ tell you that they do. Its up to your BOE and the private school bus company. End of story.
Hey- do a write up on this ridiculous claim for more power by Murphy! https://www.shorenewsnetwork.com/2022/02/17/after-new-jerseys-mask-mandate-ends-march-7th-phil-murphy-wants-a-kill-switch-option-to-be-able-to-enforce-masking-again-in-the-future/?amp=1&fbclid=IwAR2pqvmGSZQvlNqMZSIeWosnWiPIiqhs-Sj-ZtOMcObGol3YxwGEGn89_5g