Hazlet Schools: Buses, Health Protocol To Be Released By Thurs

HAZLET, NJ – In the latest installment of biweekly video messages, Hazlet Superintendent of Schools Dr. Scott Ridley announced that a new cluster of school-specific reopening protocols will be released this week.

As promised in last week’s unveiling of the Hazlet Township Public School’s 2020-2021 district reopening plan, overviews for health and safety procedures, transportation, distancing adjustments and individual school presentations will be released by the district between Aug. 5 and Aug. 6.

Watch the video message below:

“This is a significant undertaking, with many stakeholders contributing, as it covers a wide range of concerns and topics,” said Dr. Ridley. “While last week’s plans in terms of what the school day would look like was met with a largely positive response, there were nonetheless a fair amount of questions from families asking how we will address the health and wellbeing of both students and staff as the pandemic continues.”

In addition, school nurses from each school are slated to produce a video to be released later this month. The video will detail the “do’s and don’ts” of returning to school. The production will emphasize hand-washing, mask-wearing and social distancing, according to the superintendent.

“The video will also address measures that will be put into place should a student or staff member test positive,” said Ridley.

Similar videos will be produced by administrators from each of Hazlet’s eight schools, according to the superintendent, after Monday’s announcement from Gov. Phil Murphy reducing the indoor gathering capacity limit from 100 to 25 will no longer permit in-person town halls for each school. Read more: NJ Reverses Indoor Gathering Rules As Transmission Rate Rises

Ridley also mentioned the governor’s recent mandate requiring all students to wear masks for the duration of in-person instruction. Read more: Mask Breaks? Not Happening In NJ Schools, Governor Murphy Says

“From the beginning, we have reminded everyone that we are beholden to the governor’s executive orders, and yesterday he issued two that affect us directly,” said Ridley. “In addition to the downsizing of indoor gatherings, he also mandated that masks must be worn all day long in school by general education students until further notice – another in-place directive we must adjust to.”

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