Hazlet Schools Gear Up For 4-Day In-Person Instruction

HAZLET, NJ - At long last, middle and high school students at Hazlet Township Public Schools can look forward to four days of in-person classroom instruction next week.

In a Feb. 12 video update, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Scott Ridley noted that the district is prepared for the task by installing additional plexiglass barriers and rearranging classrooms. One-way traffic in hallways will continue to be emphasized alongside high-touch surface sanitization between learning periods and face mask enforcement (watch the full video update below).

“We’re more than halfway through the school year, and with teachers on deck to receive vaccinations, along with a leveling off of positive cases both district and countywide, there is reason for optimism in the days ahead,” Ridley said. “Along those lines, as previously shared, both Raritan High School and Hazlet Middle School will morph to four days in school for all students beginning Tuesday, Feb. 16 with Wednesdays remaining virtual.”

The original date to begin four-day in-person instruction in the district was Feb. 4. However, Ridley announced in January that the date would be postponed to Feb. 16 amid rising COVID-19 cases in the district. In a Jan. 27 video update, Ridley cited the continued uptick in COVID-19 cases across district, county and state, alongside the lack of available vaccines for staff, as reasons for the schedule change. Read more: Four-Day In-Person Classes Postponed For Hazlet Middle, HS

"This extended time will hopefully see a cresting of positive cases and the arrival of additional vaccines to the general public, especially our teachers and staff," Ridley said in January.

Nearby Holmdel schools returned to five-day in-person instruction on Dec. 14 following a nearly one-month virtual learning period across the district. Read more: Holmdel Students Return To Full Time In-Person Instruction

The Hazlet school district has reported three new COVID-19 cases since Feb. 9. One new case was reported on Feb. 9 at Hazlet Middle School and two new cases were reported at Middle Road School on Feb. 11. Between Feb. 4 and Feb. 11, Hazlet Township reported 50 new positive cases among residents.

“We certainly know by now that there is no quick fix to a pandemic, [but] we are absolutely moving in the right direction,” Ridley concluded.

You can watch Ridley’s full video announcement here: