Paramus Could Be Latest District Pivoting To Remote Start

PARAMUS, NJ — Paramus Public Schools will reassess their reopening plan after district staffers have, en masse, requested leaves of absence, reassignment and workplace accommodations due to concerns of contracting the coronavirus.

"A large number" of other employees in the district have even submitted letters of resignation, or retired, according to Superintendent of Schools Sean Adams.

Now, Adams and the district are tasked with fast-tracking staff hires, a move that puts the reopening date in limbo.

"Regrettably, it appears there may be insufficient time to meet our staffing demands for the planned in-person reopening of our schools," said Adams.

In a letter to the district, Adams announced that, in the wake of this workplace shift, the Board of Education will convene for a special meeting on Monday at 7 p.m.

The meeting will discuss whether it will be possible to begin the year with in-person instruction, given the current staffing demands.

Adams explains in the letter that, aside from recent staffing concerns, the district was on pace to meet state requirements to open remotely.

An inspection of the ventilation systems and air quality in Paramus schools will likely be finished this week, and, so far, the district has met other state guidelines.

However, it's not just what's going on in Paramus that has impacted the current predicament, said Adams.

"Due to the increasing number of local school districts announcing over the past several days their plans to close for in-person instruction, there have been a corresponding number of requests from employees for leaves under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act," he said.

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