Hazlet: In-Person Schedule 'Will Not Necessarily Be Permanent'

HAZLET, NJ - While some Hazlet students will be returning to in-person classes next week, school officials are warning that the schedule may shift “quickly and unexpectedly” should public health data change.

In a Jan. 8 video update, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Scott Ridley announced that students at all eight schools will be able to return to classes on Jan. 11, despite rising case numbers in Hazlet and surrounding areas:

“We realize the number of cases remain high, and that we are not yet clear of this pandemic, but our schools are safe and our kids are eager to see their peers and to learn once again in real-time,” Ridley said. “That said, I must stress that Monday’s return will not necessarily be permanent, as we will continue to monitor the data, consult our health professionals and heed Gov. Murphy’s directives.”

On Friday, the district reported 10 new COVID-19 cases since Jan. 5: seven cases at Raritan High School, one case at Beers Street School, one case at Cove Road School and one case at Hazlet Middle School. All individuals have not had recent contact with the school, officials said.

“Yes, I am hopeful that real-time instruction will remain in place moving forward, but we must all continue to be diligent and responsible as circumstances can change quickly and unexpectedly and cause us to return to full-scale remote learning once again,” Ridley added.

Monmouth County reported 643 new cases on Friday alone, an increase of over 3,000 - or 27.1 percent - over the previous week. Hazlet has seen 94 new cases since Jan. 1 and 1,057 total cases since the pandemic began.

The nearby Holmdel school district has mostly operated on a full-time schedule since Dec. 14. The district also took a brief pause on in-person instruction following winter recess. Read more: Holmdel Students Return To Full Time In-Person Instruction

“With the vaccine becoming more widely available in the days ahead, I do believe that we are moving in the right direction: that eventually the numbers will crest and a sense of normalcy will return," Ridley concluded.