Maplewood Teachers Ask For Delay In On-Site Learning: Report

MAPLEWOOD AND SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — After experiencing five months of on-site learning, parents of students in the South Orange-Maplewood School District expect to return to the buildings to start a hybrid learning plan on Jan. 19. But the teachers' union has written to the Board of Education to request another delay until educators can be vaccinated, according to a story in Village Green.

The story says that the executive board of the South Orange Maplewood Education Association read a letter into the record at Tuesday's school board meeting, saying, “The new variant from the UK is assumed to be here in New Jersey already, and reports have come in from New York City confirming cases of the strain.”

This may not sit well with a parent group who has advocated for hybrid learning to start on time, and for it to be five days per week. Some parents said their special needs students need to be in school.

"For the youngest and most vulnerable children in our community – including those with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or 504s and those from economically insecure households – the virtual learning experience cannot effectively substitute for in person," said Michelle Campana Sullivan last month.

The district was to re-open buildings in November, but suffered a setback related to unresolved issues with its ventilation system.

The school district website is here.

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