Schools

Princeton Schools Confirm Plan To 'Fully' Reopen In September

Unless prohibited by the state, the district said they have plans to fully open all schools in September.

Unless prohibited by the state, the school district said they have plans to fully reopen in September.
Unless prohibited by the state, the school district said they have plans to fully reopen in September. (Alex Mirchuk/Patch)

PRINCETON, NJ — Princeton Public Schools recently confirmed they have plans to fully reopen schools in September 2021.

The school district said they will reopen schools for all students in September, unless prohibited by the state.

“PPS is planning to have five-day, in-person instruction in September,” Barry Galasso, interim superintendent, said in a statement.

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“We have discussed this in public with our parents and I would like to dispel inaccurate rumors. PPS schools will be fully open in September unless it is prohibited by the state.”

Recently, a group of parents petitioned the school district to reopen full time.

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They said the hybrid model of learning was affecting the quality of education, impacting children and falls short of the "standards expected from Princeton schools."

Read More Here: Princeton Parents Petition To Reopen Schools Full-time

Last week, PPS announced plans to expand in-person instruction in March and April for students who want to be back in school.

“To the extent that health and safety considerations permit, we will continue to combine cohorts where possible in all schools and increase in-person instructional time,” Galasso said.

Meanwhile, many teachers and school staff have been able to sign up to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, making it easier for the district to make reopening plans.

“I am pleased that New Jersey is offering K-12 educators and staff priority appointments. As more teachers are vaccinated, it makes it easier for us to return to normal,” Galasso said.

Gov. Phil Murphy too had said he expects all schools in the state to reopen full-time in the fall, now that teachers and staff are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.

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