Bridgewater Mayor 'Disappointed' In School's Virtual Decision

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Bridgewater Mayor Matthew Moench said he was "disappointed" in the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District's decision to go fully virtual at the start of the school year.

"An enormous amount of time, resources, and planning has gone in to providing a balanced approach to reopening, with all parents having the option to go fully virtual if they believed that to be best for them and their family. This decision to go fully virtual does not provide any additional benefits for those families who already selected the fully remote option, but instead limits the options for those parents who felt that in-person instruction was the best for their children and their family," said Moench, who is a parent of school-aged children and a husband to a public school teacher.

BRRSD Superintendent Dr. Thomas Ficarra sent out a note to parents on Thursday night stating the district will be applying to the New Jersey Department of Education to delay opening the school with in-person instruction and instead begin with virtual only. Read More: Bridgewater-Raritan School District Wants All-Remote Start

"Unfortunately, the District's decision to reverse in-person learning option will have an impact on our community. Not only for the students, who will lose the ability to socialize with their friends and have more meaningful engagement with their teachers, but for the working parents who now must juggle their child care and personal finances in a whole new and unanticipated way," Moench said.

If the new reopening plan is approved, in-person instruction for students wouldn't begin until Monday, Oct. 12.

However, that may change as the district will reassess the situation by Oct. 1. At that point, based upon the staffing and COVID-related conditions at the time the district will determine as to whether or not they will return to in-person instruction, or remain on virtual-only instruction until the end of the first marking period — which is Nov. 13.

"I hope that the extra time, if granted, will allow the district to implement the safety precautions and logistics needed to resume full time in-person education in October for those parents who choose to send their children, and continue with a remote option for those families who opt-out of in-person schooling, Moench said. "The Township, as it has been, will be there to support and provide guidance in any way that we can."

In Somerset County, Hillsborough also announced on Tuesday night that it will be joining the ever-growing list of school districts to open the new school year with an all-virtual plan. Read More: Hillsborough Schools Will Reopen With All Virtual Learning

Other schools in the state have also announced a switch to virtual including Scotch Plains-Fanwood Regional, Plainfield, Elizabeth, Long Branch, New Brunswick, Toms River Bayonne, Freehold Township, Jersey City, Montclair, and Willingboro.

Additionally, New Jersey officials confirmed that at least 139 school districts want an all-remote start of the school year. Read More: NJ: 139 School Districts Want All-Remote Start Amid Coronavirus

• Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. Download here. Don't miss local and statewide announcements. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters.