Hoboken Schools Superintendent: Plan To Be Completed By Late July

HOBOKEN, NJ —Hoboken Schools Superintendent Christine Johnson sent out a message on Saturday to update the school community about plans for the reopening in fall. The Hoboken schools are set to reopen for students on Tuesday, Sept. 8.

School reopening plans have been controversial across the country, as medical experts, political officials, the CDC, and the American Association of Pediatricians have shared differing opinions on whether students should be in school in person in fall, and how, amid the spread of coronavirus.

In New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy sent his plan to the districts late last month, but it was broad.

Johnson wrote in her message on Saturday:

<blockquote>

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As you know, Governor Murphy made an announcement over a week ago regarding the reopening of schools and what that might look like in September. The Governor and Commissioner of Education indicated that each local school district in New Jersey would be provided with a copy of "The Road Back: Restart and Recovery Plan for Education" and from there have approximately thirty days to design their own local plans. We have received this document.

There are broad-based health and wellness parameters that every district needs to follow and meet. While each district's plan will look different due to a variety of variables, it is certain that all plans will need to strike a balance between onsite traditional learning and remote learning.

The document, "The Road Back: Restart and Recovery Plan for Education" did clarify some questions but not all. It is such a broad framework. It does not indicate which potential option for opening is most recommend or if the Governor has any intention of closing schools again in September.

The Hoboken Public School District will be prepared regardless. We are exploring every possible option and designing comprehensive plans for each. I want to make it very clear that we have not completed these plans as of yet and we certainly have not selected one. If we have the ability to open safely either using a full day, traditional onsite model or a 50% capacity onsite model, we will do so. And, if that is the case, we will be as flexible as possible by providing families the choice of selecting the onsite model that we implement or selecting to stay on a remote learning model. That flexibility is not being discussed in many other districts, but I do feel it is critical to provide families with an option that is most comfortable.

We are also redesigning our remote learning model. We are committed to capitalizing on elements that we identified as in need of improvement between March and June and maintaining the many elements that worked well.

All plans must be submitted to the New Jersey Department of Education, 30 days prior to the first planning opening day of school. That means that all districts are knee deep in planning right now. My goal is to have another survey go out to all families between July 18th and July 27th and publish our completed plan with our options by July 28th or shortly thereafter.

In closing, I ask that you please refrain from speculating or taking information provided by anyone other than me and taking to social media. All that does is muddy the water. Remember, if information is spoken or written about the opening of school plans by anyone but me, it's probably not accurate. I would much rather you give me a call or email me any questions you may have and I will do my best to answer as quickly as possible.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation and partnership.

Sincerely,
Superintendent Johnson

</blockquote>

To see other recent Patch Hoboken school news, click here.

For the superintendent's message, click here.

Got news? Email caren.lissner@patch.com. To keep up with breaking news in your town and statewide when it happens, and get a free local newsletter each morning, sign up for Patch breaking news alerts and daily newsletters.