Feb. 16 Is Still Middletown's Anticipated 'Reopening' Date

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Tuesday, Feb. 16 is still the anticipated "reopening" date for Middletown public schools, as long as COVID public health data shows it is safe, superintendent Mary Ellen Walker clarified in this letter to parents Thursday night.

In light of Walker's letter, Middletown mom Kate Farley, who was organizing a protest this Sunday to demand kids be let back in school full time, said her protest has now been canceled.

"We’ve made the decision to postpone the rally until a later date in light of the superintendent’s letter last night, which indicated Phase 6 is back on track to begin February 16," said Farley.

As previously reported, the district has formed three Pandemic Response Team (PRT) subcommittees, one for Middletown elementary, middle and high schools. The teams consist of parents, BOE members, teachers and staff and they will hold their first meeting Friday afternoon to discuss the best way to implement Phase 6, which is the integration of all Middletown schools back in the classroom, full time.

Walker was emphatic in her Thursday night letter that the district is "moving forward with Phase 6," and said she is "hopeful" that it can begin Feb. 16.

"The subcommittees will not be determining if or when Phase 6 will be implemented. We will be moving forward with Phase 6," wrote Walker (she emphasized 'not').

"The timing of that movement will be determined by administration in consultation with medical and public health experts and after review of health data related to the school and community. The subcommittees’ recommendations will be considered in making any revisions to that plan, if needed. The subcommittees will also work to identify strategies to ensure safe and effective school operations during Phase 6 of the MTPS Restart and Recovery Plan, as well as look at effective ways to maximize afternoon instruction time for students."

"We are optimistic that the health data will continue to improve," said the superintendent. "With that in mind, we are hopeful to begin Phase 6 with the input of our PRT subcommittees on February 16, if the community and district health data supports doing so."

A key part of Phase 6 is collapsing the cohorts that have been used in Middletown's hybrid learning model, which has been in place since the fall. All Middletown students would go to class at once. (Parents who want to keep their children virtual will still have that option.)

Farley told Patch Thursday she wanted to host the rally because she thought Walker was abandoning the Feb. 16 re-start date.

"Because her letter clarified that these committees are not deciding when and if we reopen, and set a specific date for reopening, we are going to hold off on the rally for now," she said. "The fact that she put the 16th back in her letter was key; it put a lot of people's anxieties at ease to know that's what we're working towards."

"We will wait and see what the details are, which haven’t been released yet," said Farley. "If the details of the plan are unsatisfactory, then we will reschedule the rally."

Farley also launched this petition calling for the Middletown school board to take up a vote of "no confidence" in Walker.

Meanwhile, another petition has also been launched by Middletown resident Michele Collins to "express our disgust" after a Holmdel Board of Education member, Terence Wall, called into the Middletown BOE meeting Tuesday night and urged them to reopen schools full time, as the Holmdel school district did on Jan. 4. He also told the Middletown BOE to "ignore the union rhetoric."

"Not sure who invited him, but someone did," read the petition. (Wall told Patch he was not invited by anyone to speak.)

"We are asking that Board of Education members (especially from other towns) are not allowed to push their political agenda at future Middletown BOE meetings. This is unacceptable and unethical," read the petition. So far, more than 400 people have signed it.

Related: Middletown Subcommittees Will Meet This Friday To Discuss Phase 6

School Reopening Rally Planned For Sunday In A Divided Middletown

Holmdel Board Member Calls Into Middletown BOE: Get Kids In Class

Holmdel BOE Member Defends Opining On Middletown School Reopening

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