Parents Demand Bridgewater Schools Reopen Full-Time Amid COVID-19

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — A group of parents started a petition demanding that the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District immediately begin reopening schools full time.

"Our students are suffering," according to the petition. "The hybrid learning model is not working for all of our students and if we are going to stand by our mission statement that reads 'We will teach them One and All, Young to Old and Big to Small …' then we must acknowledge and address the impacts that the hybrid model has had on our learners."

The district began the school year Sept. 8 as fully virtual before switching to a hybrid model that allows students to do a mixture of in-school and virtual learning.

The petition launched, on New Year's Day, questions why the district has not come up with an updated plan to start implementing full-time, in-person learning again for students.

"We were made to believe that the hybrid model was temporary, but nobody has an answer as to what the next steps are. It is time we demand a plan of action," according to the petition.

The petition goes on to note that a large number of students are suffering negative effects both academically and emotionally.

Additionally, the petition notes that the hybrid model was proposed to minimize the exposure rate for the COVID-19 virus. However, "many parents are forced to hire help or send their children to other learning centers on their virtual days, contradicting this theory while at the same time causing added financial strains on our families."

The petition points to other districts in the area that are able to send students back to school full time including Branchburg and Warren. Read More: Warren's Youngest Students To Return To School 5 Days A Week

Keeping students on a hybrid or virtual model versus sending them back to school is a hotly contested subject. In Scotch Plains-Fanwood, some parents have protested and are now suing the district for keeping their students home. Read More: Parents Sue Scotch Plains-Fanwood Schools For Closing Amid COVID

Since Friday, the petition has gained 635 signatures. Interim Superintendent Dr. Thomas Ficarra will be presenting an FAQ at Tuesday night's Board of Education meeting which will address these and other concerns, according to Ficarra's secretary Suzanne Calabro.

The BOE reorganization meeting will be held virtually at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday. For more information visit brrsd.org/about/board-of-education.

Here is a look at Bridgewater-Raritan's COVID-19 virus numbers since reopening for in-person learning Oct. 12:

• Adamsville - 8
• Bradley Gardens - 2
• Crim - 3
• Hamilton - 3
• Kennedy - 4
• Milltown - 5
• Van Holten - 3
• Hillside - 9
• Eisenhower - 13
• Middle School - 21
• High School - 57
• District Support Staff - 10

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