Thursday marked the first day of the new school year in Monroe.

Monroe Superintendent Joe Kobza says it’s great to be back at full capacity for the first time since the pandemic began.

"We welcomed back, I believe it’s over 3,300 students this year," he says.

Kobza say enrollment is up at his elementary schools because families have moved from the cities because of the pandemic.

Public schools have a mask mandate in effect until Sept. 30.

Parents brought their concerns up about the issue at a recent board of education meeting.

"If vaccines work why keep children in masks? If you're vaccinated, what are you worried about,” says one mother who was at the meeting. “Children are more at risk of dying from drowning or being in a car accident than dying from COVID." 

The superintendent says he respects the parents that shared their opinions, but will rely on the experts for guidance.

“Nobody wants to see their kids in masks,” he says. “But we’re going to continue to follow the directives as they’ve been given to us.”

Kobza says he does not know what will happen after September.

“The only thing that we know is going to be constant is that things are going to change,” says Kobza.

The superintendent says most teachers are fully vaccinated.

The state wants that to be mandated by Sept. 27.