Newark Public Schools Will Stay Remote Until November (UPDATED)

NEWARK, NJ — Classes in the Newark Public School District will stay remote-only until at least November due to the coronavirus pandemic, officials said Monday.

Newark’s public schools will remain remote for staff and students until the end of the first marking period, according to John Abeigon, president of the Newark Teachers Union, Local 481.

The Newark Board of Education’s task force on reopening will reassess the situation in mid-November, Abeigon said.

The school board confirmed the decision on social media.

During a morning meeting of the task force, Superintendent Roger León thanked its members and their constituencies, as well as Mayor Ras Baraka, state Sen. Teresa Ruiz and the Newark Teachers Union, for offering input on the district’s reopening plan.

“We had to consider the safety of our students and staff above all else,” León said. “We are prepared to continue offering our students instruction with rigor and to do so creatively, so that our students maintain their competitive edge.”

Many teachers have been pushing to begin the year virtually, worrying that a premature return to class could endanger students and staff.

Newark district officials offered commentary about the decision on Tuesday.

Speaking on behalf of the Newark Board of Education, President Josephine Garcia said members have reached a consensus of agreement with the superintendent’s decision.

“The COVID-19 pandemic as it stands is still a large public health risk and it will be treated as such,” Garcia said. “This being said, the public health and safety of our students and staff will continue to be held to the highest standard.”

Wilhelmina Holder, president of the Secondary Parent Council, said the decision for all Newark Public Schools to operate remotely was not one that was made lightly.

“In light of the revised reopening plans, I think this is the best strategic move at this time given all unknown variables from the NJDOE, the NJ Health Department and the Murphy administration,” Holder said.

Monday's announcement is a big change from the district’s earlier decision to offer daily in-person classes to families who want them when school starts Sept. 8. As required by the state, the district also gave families the option of all-remote learning, which they had until Friday to select.

• See related article: As More Districts Go All-Remote, Newark Sticks With Plan To Reopen Classrooms

Several charter schools in Newark have already chosen to delay the start of in-person learning.

North Star Academy, KIPP New Jersey and Great Oaks Legacy, which collectively enroll about two-thirds of the city's more than 19,000 charter school students, have asked for state approval to begin with all-remote classes this month before adding some limited in-person instruction in the following weeks.

• See related article: Newark Charter Schools Plan To Start Remotely, Postponing In-Person Classes

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