NJ School Opening Plans: These districts begin remotely

A growing number of New Jersey’s largest school districts plan to begin the next academic year remotely following Gov.’s announcement. Phil Murphy last week that all-virtual learning would be acceptable under certain conditions.

Newark – the state’s largest school district – said Monday that students would learn at a distance for at least the first marking period. The 40,000 student district previously had plans for as many as five days of instruction.

The state’s second, third and fourth largest districts – Jersey City, Paterson and Elizabeth – have also pivoted for the beginning of the year.

If schools say they cannot meet one or more of the guidelines, districts may request to start the year with all-remote learning.

Districts that have given permission to start the year all-remote should show that they are trying to make changes to start person classes at a later date. Here’s a sample of districts that do not plan to offer in-person instruction when schools in New Jersey open next month.

BERGEN COUNTY

Edgewater and Teaneck will start the year entirely remotely. Teaneck will be at a distance for the first marking period with plans to re-evaluate in October.

CAMDEN COUNTY

Students in the city of Camden will be learning from the beginning of the school year September 8 to at least January 31, the district said last week.

“During this remote period, we will continue to assess and monitor the needs and feedback of our families and staff, at which time we will determine in early January whether the neighborhood is ready to offer adequate instruction in person,” Camden school officials said. in a statement.

ESSEX COUNTY

Nutley schools plan to ask the state to approve 100% virtual learning for the first marking period of the year.

“We are still being challenged in several areas under the requirements of general health and safety, particularly ventilation, and those providing the provision of general and special education and related services to students with disabilities,” the district said in a letter to parents Monday.

The district wants to provide emergency child care for students from nursery school 6th grade or school Sept. 8. Open.

HUDSON COUNTY

Bayonne was the first district of Hudson County to plan for full-time distance learning, with the Board of Education approving a full-fledged start to the semester late last month. Earlier this month, the Jersey City Board of Education voted for a similarity plan. Jersey City is the second largest neighborhood in the state.

Union City, Guttenberg, North Bergen, West New York, Harrison and Kearny announced new virtual learning plans in September. The Hudson County Schools of Technology will also begin the school year with distance learning.

Hamilton Township School District will instruct distance students to begin the year before moving on to a hybrid plan Oct. 12, according to TapInto.net. An official announcement is expected Monday.

MIDDLESEX LAND

Highland Park and neighboring New Brunswick will start the year clean.

“We will slowly but surely turn students into a personalized instructional program over the next few months,” Highint Park Superintendent Dr. Scott Taylor said in a YouTube video that appeared Monday.

OCEAN LAND

Students from Toms River will begin September 8 with distance instruction. Under the previous hybrid plan, students would have attended school for up to four days, a week according to APP.com.

PASSAIC COUNTY

Paterson, the state’s third largest district, and Passaic plan to begin the school year remotely this year. Paterson School will remain closed through October, with Passaic schools teaching almost through September.

UNION COUNTY

Two days before Murphy said a full distance plan would be OK, Elizabeth’s school board voted to start the 2020-2021 school year in this way so that her school buildings can remain closed due to the shortage of teachers.

“As of Monday, 375 teachers had informed the district that they could not report to work in a school building in September due to health-related issues. “There would not be enough staff to open in person with the fact that many teachers are not available for personal instruction,” a spokesman said.

Earlier in the Scotch Plains-Fanwood neighborhood, they were contacted late Friday night with an email informing them that the previous hybrid plan of two days a week of instruction in person had been thrown in favor of a full-fledged plan to to start the year. The start of the school year is also postponed to sept. 14. Some parents are planning a ‘Rally to Open Scotch Plains-Fanwood Schools’ at Park Middle School at 4pm on Tuesday.

Do you know of a school district that starts remotely? Send us an email at [email protected].

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Jeff Goldman is perhaps reachable at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Fine NJ.com on Facebook.