Bridgewater-Raritan School District Wants All-Remote Start

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — The Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District is looking to begin the school year as virtual-only for all students.

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.

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.

The district had released a reopening plan two weeks ago, which included two options: fully virtual or a hybrid model.

The hybrid model splits students into groups and divides the week into a mix of in-person learning and virtual learning days.

Based on a survey sent to parents, 40 percent of Bridgewater-Raritan parents chose to opt-out of in-person instruction and elect to have their child remain at home for virtual learning. Read More: 40 Percent Of Bridgewater Parents Choose To Keep Kids Home

In Somerset County, Hillsborough announced 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

Along with Hillsborough, several other schools in the state have already 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

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