Lawrence Schools To Offer In-Person, Remote Learning This Fall

LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP, NJ — The Lawrence Township Public School District is evaluating ways to reopen in the fall, and it is seeking input from the community.

The school district has developed two plans: one for virtual/remote learning only, and a hybrid option that combines in-person and virtual learning. The district is seeking input from families as to which option they prefer.

Parents can provide their input using this questionnaire by 4 p.m. Monday. This will help the district prepare for class sizes and transportation. Based on these responses, a final plan will be presented at the Board of Education meeting on Aug. 12.

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The district already took input from the public about their remote learning curriculum that was implemented from March through the end of the school year. It said it is using that data to improve their remote learning plan, which will consist of the same curriculum used for students attending class in-person.

Anyone in the remote learning plan will be required to remain on that plan until at least Jan. 29, school officials said. As part of the remote learning plan:

• Students will interact virtually via live instruction several times a week with a teacher in the district. This will include both live, scheduled classes with an instructor at a set time and student self-paced learning.
• Assessments, projects, content, and resources will all be a part of the remote learning plan and will follow the district curriculum and New Jersey learning standards.
• In addition to the live lessons, teachers will post assignments on a weekly basis and teachers will provide feedback for students on a regular basis.
• Daily attendance will be taken and monitored.

In the hybrid plan, students will be separated into groups. The number of groups and the number of students in each group will be based on how many students enroll in this option.

The district is considering two options for this plan. One would see each group in class two days a week while the other group learns remotely on those days, and then they would switch. There would be one day in which all students learn remotely.

The other option would be to send one group to school for an entire week while the other group learns remotely. The groups would alternate weeks.

On days in which students attend school in-person, they would be in the school for four hours, since the district will not be serving lunch. Students and staff would be required to wear face coverings at all times.

Students who attend school in-person will have the option to take the school bus. No more than 11 students will be allowed on the bus at a time, and they will have to follow the social distancing guidelines set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and wear face coverings at all times. Busses will be thoroughly cleaned at the end of each day.

“As we continue to get more guidance from Governor Murphy and the health department, please know that the plan will continue to change,” Lawrence Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ross Kasun said in a statement. “As always, our ultimate goal is to eventually have all students back in district for safe, in-person learning.”

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