Brick School Board Meeting Postponed

BRICK, NJ — The Brick Township Board of Education meeting that was scheduled for Thursday has been postponed a week, to Aug. 20, the district announced.

Superintendent Thomas Farrell said the meeting was postponed at his request, because of changes in guidance from the state Department of Education on the plans to restart school in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. on Aug. 20.

"The guidance changes almost daily," Farrell said.

There is concern the guidance from the state may change significantly, as pressure seeking an all-remote opening increases. The New Jersey Education Association has said it believes it is not safe to reopen, and last week the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association added its concerns.

Gov. Phil Murphy has continued to press for opening schools, even as some districts, including Jersey City, have announced they will open remote only.

Given the uncertainty, Farrell said, postponing a week would allow the district to gather answers to questions.

Farrell said the district is prepared no matter what happens; the district released its 62-page restart plan on the district's website.

"We're prepared to do our hybrid," he said, but if the shift is to remote learning, the district is prepared for that as well, he said.

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