Scotch Plains-Fanwood Schools To Finalize Reopen Plan Next Week

SCOTCH PLAINS/FANWOOD, NJ — The Scotch Plains-Fanwood Regional School District's Restart Committee will meet next week to discuss and finalize a reopening plan for September amid the coronavirus.

The committee will meet during the week of July 20 and then share the reopening plans with the whole community no later than the first week of August to allow parents and staff time to plan for the new school year, Superintendent Dr. Joan Mast said.

Surveys were already sent out to students, parents, and teachers to gather data to be used in discussions.

"Our main goal is to have students return to school," Mast said in a letter to students and staff.

The district will be following five guiding principals to help create a reopening plan including health and safety, wellness, communication, learning, and engagement.

The district will also be:

• Have school principals develop school-based Pandemic Response Teams
• Building principals will develop teams of parents and staff to create a flexible learning model
• Plans for social-emotional learning, ongoing cleaning/disinfectant process, health and safety plans, and staff professional development will be created.

Additionally, the district will be designing guidelines and plans for providing enhanced online learning in case it is needed.

Lastly, Mast noted a technology initiative where each student will be given their own personal device to prevent the sharing of devices in school.

To read Mast's full letter click here.

A "draft" proposal was leaked on Monday by the New Jersey teachers' union, where teachers are calling for students to be required to wear face coverings "door-to-door" (that means all day long while in school) and districts to conduct weekly testing of students. Read More: NJ Teachers Develop Possible Back-To-School Coronavirus Rules

Dawn Hiltner, a spokeswoman for the New Jersey Education Association, confirmed the contents of a document that was circulating on Twitter on Monday, but added that it reflects what teachers believe should happen.

Here is what the NJEA also would like to see:

• The district should provide testing for all students and staff during the week prior to the first day of attendance.
• Masks should be worn door-to-door.
• Students and staff must wear face coverings at their bus stops and prior to boarding the buses.
• Each district should provide weekly on-site testing of all students and staff at no cost.
• Social distancing of 6 feet must be maintained at all times.
• Hallways and passing areas should be marked to allow for one-way travel as needed.
• Plexiglass barriers should be installed where social distancing isn't possible.

Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

See more stories about New Jersey's coronavirus recovery.

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