Hillsborough Schools Will Reopen With All Virtual Learning

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — Hillsborough joins the ever-growing list of school districts to open the new school year with an all-virtual plan.

Hillsborough Township Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Lisa M. Antunes announced the change in the reopening plan on Tuesday night in a letter to staff, parents and students.

"Unfortunately, as districts continue to alter their plans coupled with the review of staff health and safety concerns in our district, the District Restart Committee (DRC) has concluded that, at this time, we are unable to meet the health and safety standards to operate the hybrid plan to start the school year," Antunes said.

The district will start the 2020-21 school year on Sept. 4 in an all-virtual mode, which will continue through Friday, Sept. 25. The district will then switch gears and begin hybrid instruction on Tuesday, Sept. 29.

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Low-incidence classes (such as Autism, LLD-Severe, Mild/Moderate, Behavior Disabilities) will attend in-person instruction beginning Tuesday, Sept. 8, depending upon class size and instructional space.

The Hillsborough Education Association(HEA) had been pushing for the school district to begin the school year remotely citing risks associated with the coronavirus. Read More: Hillsborough Educators Urge District To Open Schools Remotely

"At a time when we seek to limit indoor gatherings, restrict restaurant and other business access, and many colleges and companies are continuing to operate remotely, the state is considering sending hundreds of thousands of students and educators back into buildings to see what happens. To allow education professionals', students' and their families' lives to be part of an experiment is simply unacceptable," the HEA wrote last week.

"We understand that adjusting the timeline for implementation of the hybrid model will impact family schedules and parents' ability to work outside of the home (as well as inside of the home). We do not take this action lightly; these decisions were made after many hours of discussion and deliberation. Instead, we are hoping to ensure a safe and more seamless start to the school year for our students and our staff," Antunes said.

The district announced its three-week delay to its hybrid plan following the release of recent guidance from the NJ Department of Health.

The DOH on Thursday released its own recommended health and safety protocols for parents, teachers and school nurses to follow if schools that have in-person instruction experience even one case of the coronavirus. Read More: Here's How The Coronavirus Could Close Any NJ School

For example, it could take just two coronavirus cases — even if they were detected in separate classrooms — to shut down a school building in September, according to the long list of rules provided by the NJDOH.

Here are the times Hillsborough's virtual learning plan will run:

• Amsterdam Elementary School and Triangle Elementary School: 7:50 - 11:50 a.m.,
• Hillsborough Elementary School, Sunnymead Elementary School, Woodfern Elementary School, and Woods Road Elementary School: 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.,
• Auten Road School: 9:15 a.m. - 1:50 p.m.,
• Hillsborough Middle School: 8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.,
• Hillsborough High School: 7:30 a.m. - noon.
• Teachers will also be available in the afternoons for 1:1 instruction, collaboration, and student/parent conferences, as needed.

Additionally, although not required the Board of Education will approve of the new plan at its Monday, Aug. 24 meeting and will also revise the 2020-2021 school calendar as follows:

• Staff inservice day scheduled for Monday, Oct. 12 will move to Thursday, Sept. 3. Monday, Oct. 12, will now be a regular school day for all staff and students.
• Virtual learning with all students will initiate on Friday, Sept. 4.
• Synchronous virtual learning (with teachers in their classrooms) will be provided for all students beginning Tuesday, Sept. 8 through Friday, Sept. 25.
• Low-incidence classes (i.e. Autism, LLD-Severe, Mild/Moderate, Behavior Disabilities) will attend in-person instruction beginning Tuesday, Sept. 8, depending on class size and instructional space.
• Following the scheduled day off on Monday, Sept. 28, the hybrid model will start on Tuesday, Sept. 29, for those students who requested it. Those students who requested virtual learning will remain in their virtual environments.

"The typical back-to-school excitement and promise ought to be embraced by all of us at this time as it remains important, perhaps more so now than ever before, that we come together as a community," Antunes said. "There are no perfect or simple answers or solutions to the issues we continue to face as a country, state, and community. Therefore, as we adapt to the changes, it is essential that we also generate enthusiasm for what lies ahead. Tempering our anxieties, managing our uncertainties, treating each other with kindness and respect, and embracing our hopes will go a long way toward realizing that we all want what is best for our students and the HTPS community overall."

Several other schools in the state have switched plans to an all-virtual model including Scotch Plains-Fanwood Regional, Plainfield, Elizabeth, Long Branch, New Brunswick, Toms River Bayonne, Freehold Township, Jersey City, Montclair, and Willingboro.

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

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