Gloucester Township Schools Are Considering These Reopening Plans

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — The Gloucester Township K-8 Public School District is evaluating ways to reopen in the fall, and it is seeking input from the community.

The school district has developed two plans. The “All-in Plan” places a priority of having students in school. The “Space First Plan” would call for smaller numbers of students in schools and place priority on social distancing.

Earlier this month, Gov. Phil Murphy issued a list of rules and guidelines for reopening schools this fall amid the coronavirus outbreak. Boards of education were given flexibility that "recognizes and respects" the differences between districts, he said.

This includes the option to rearrange schedules and implement a hybrid of in-person and remote learning. He also cautioned districts should be ready in case they need to move back to an entirely remote learning environment. Read more here: Gov. Murphy Issues NJ School Reopening Rules Amid Coronavirus

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Each district must follow these reopening requirements:

• Provide for the health and safety of staff and students to the greatest extent possible;
• Resume in-person instruction to the extent possible in accordance with guidelines and requirements of governing bodies; and
• Offer reasonable accommodations for those at higher risk for severe disease including remote learning.

“While planning, it has become clear that we are unable to provide a plan that perfectly meets the recommendations for each of these,” the school district said in a statement. “As a result, we are asking families and staff to share their preferences for how the district prioritizes and implements its plan. After reviewing the survey results with district committees more information will be provided about our plan within a week to 10 days.”

In the “All In Plan,” students would physically attend school most or all the days, with the entire class present. If a deep cleaning day is necessary, students will be asked to move to a remote learning model for the day.

While maintaining social distancing of six feet won’t be possible, the district will attempt to adhere to the American Academy of Pediatrician’s guidance of three feet.

Face coverings would be required other than lunch and recess for students and staff except for those with medical concerns and some consideration for early childhood students.

In the “Space First Plan,” classes are divided into two groups, and each group attends school physically for two straight days. They would be the same two days each week.

On the two days students are not in school, they will participate in remote instruction with limited support from the teacher. On the fifth day, all students will learn remotely.

With the limited number of students in class under this plan, classes could follow the social distancing guidelines of six feet, and students wouldn’t be required to wear their masks while sitting at their desks. They would have to wear them when moving around the classroom or outside the classroom other than lunch and recess times.

As the coronavirus pandemic evolves, schools may be forced to move to an all-remote learning environment as they did for the 2019-20 school year.

In a remote-learning environment, Chromebooks and other necessary materials would be provided to students. Access to wireless Internet is required, but the district would help families who are in need of access.

There would be similar work requirements as in-person with some adjustments in the demonstration of content mastery all students are graded as if they were in-person.

Enhanced Instruction will blend live/recorded instruction and self-paced work under the supervision of the teacher. The teacher would receive updated/revised curricular and instructional guidance developed by administrative/teacher committees over the summer.

Daily attendance would be taken/required with the possibility of required/live classes particularly in the middle school.

Transportation will be offered in both plans, but social distancing of six feet is most likely not possible. Face coverings are required except for those with medical concerns. Parents/guardians are encouraged to self-transport students where possible.

In the case of in-person instruction, students and staff will be screened daily at arrival and denied admission/sent home if they have an elevated temperature or other symptoms of the coronavirus.

Students and staff will be grouped to limit interaction/contact to the fewest number of individuals possible. Flow of traffic and individuals will be structured to minimize movement throughout the school and maximize social distancing and ability for contact tracing.

To give input on these plans, visit the school district’s website.

See more stories about New Jersey's coronavirus recovery.