Ridgewood Public Schools Continue Planning For Reopening

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — The July 27 Board of Education agenda isn't out yet, but Ridgewood Public Schools officials say that's when the district's reopening plan will be announced.

In a letter to parents and guardians on July 10, Superintendent Daniel Fishbein shared that five subcommittees have been created to help shape the plan, and a parent survey was circulated for additional input.

Reopening plans are due to the Bergen County Office of Education by July 27, and the district will present the plans at the Board of Education meeting the same night, according to Fishbein's letter, and confirmed by Public Information Officer Charlene Labenda.

The subcommittees have been planing for the reopening since mid-May, he said.

"These reopening subcommittees have been developing adaptable instructional models with the primary consideration being the health, safety, and wellbeing of our students and staff," wrote Fishbein.

The discussions this far, he said, were informed in part by parent and teacher surveys, which asked about the remote learning experience of this spring.

"This input has contributed to our instructional and operational considerations for

the fall, in combination with the parameters set forth by the NJDOE and the CDC," said Fishbein.

The district has also "collaborated with neighboring districts and colleagues" throughout the state, he said.

Though the letter gave no explicit indication of what the school year could look like, Fishbein added that teachers were offered professional development throughout the course of this summer to "afford them the opportunity to advance their knowledge of tools and platforms essential to a virtual or blended learning environment."

That meeting is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. through video conference.