Hazlet Superintendent Addresses Health Curriculum

This press release was produced by the Hazlet Township Public School District.

COMMUNITY MESSAGE: April 15, 2022

Good morning and happy spring vacation. It is Friday, April 15, and I would like to take this opportunity to share a few updates as the fourth marking period begins and we enter the final turn of the school year.

Although Covid variants remain, and positive cases are still being reported, our masks are off and quarantining is now a choice, not a mandate-- which translates to more kids in school, learning in real-time-- always a priority here in Hazlet. As a matter of perspective, we had over 150 cases our first two weeks after winter break and only 20 so far this April. Still, Covid remains “out there” and we need to stay prudent with our health protocols since we always see a spike following a vacation break.

Next, I would like to address the NJDOE’s adjustment to the health curriculum for younger children and assure you that the overwhelming majority of how these lessons are delivered will remain unchanged and that parents, whose voices absolutely matter in this school district, will continue to have the choice to opt out of any particular instruction they are not comfortable with. To that end, yesterday, Gov. Phil Murphy directed the state Department of Education to take another look at its guidelines for this curriculum following an outcry from parents over claims that the standards are exposing young children to inappropriate content. Eventually, common sense will prevail.

Next, over the summer, and by September, we will be renovating the district website with a modern, accessible, colorful and educational product that will make navigating our district and school webpages a more enjoyable, informative experience. Stay tuned for further updates on this pending improvement of our communication process.

Covid may have interrupted our daily routines these past two years though I assure you, we have never suspended prioritizing the safety of our students. As a relevant example, yesterday, in cooperation with the Office of School Preparedness and Emergency Planning, the NJ State Police Bomb Squad, and HTPD, we ran a successful shelter-in-place drill at Lillian Drive; during the debriefing, all three agencies commended Mrs. Matsutani and her staff for their handling of the proposed threat. Rest assured, your children are safe inside our schools.

Our spring athletic programs are in full swing, including a brand-new currently undefeated club-team of girls’ flag football at the high school, along with our traditional baseball, softball and track & field varsity squads. School as it ought to be!

Field Days, band concerts, science fairs, award ceremonies, and graduations are on-deck. Every school has a dedicated outside learning space and, as the weather warms, our students will be breathing the open air more than ever before.

As always, we remain accessible, transparent and available and urge any parent with a question on any topic to contact your child’s teacher, nurse, or principal and I assure they will respond in a timely fashion and do their best to address your concerns. As I have often shared, we fully realize that we cannot make everyone happy with every decision, but I do know that this entire district—its secretaries, custodians, technology team, nurses, teachers and administrators absolutely prioritize your child’s educational and personal experience, and we will not lower our standards at any time or in any way.

Happy Easter, happy Passover. . . Stay safe, stay healthy and have some fun with your kids.

Go Yankees!

Thank you.

This press release was produced by the Hazlet Township Public School District. The views expressed here are the author’s own.