South Brunswick Superintendent: Schools Should Not Reopen Yet

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — While most New Jersey school superintendents are scrambling to come up with a plan that allows for in-person learning this fall, the superintendent of South Brunswick schools has staked out a bold stance: He doesn't think schools should open at all this September.

It's a position most commonly advocated by teachers, but now it appears Superintendent Scott Feder agrees with them. Feder argues that coronavirus death tolls are still surging and points out how easily the virus can spread indoors. Feder wrote this four-page statement outlining his views, and he released it on his official school district Twitter account Tuesday.

Feder wrote that he would like to see a few more things in New Jersey open first, including gyms and indoor dining, before public schoolchildren are used as the state's guinea pigs. Then see how much the virus spreads from there, he argues.

"Prior to any consideration to open schools, the state should first open all state and local government offices, along with all other indoor venues, i.e., dining, movie theaters, gyms, etc., at 50-100 percent occupancy and do so for a minimum of one to two months, in order to identify and illustrate best practices, " Feder wrote. "So prior to sending every child and educator into closed indoor settings all at once, the reopening of all indoor venues will give our state a chance to assess if we can control and coexist with Covid-19 in indoor environments."

"There are over 1.6 million children and educators in the state of New Jersey; they should not be the first into the maze," he wrote.

All school districts in New Jersey have until Aug. 3 to come up with their plans for in-person learning this September. South Brunswick's entire plan will be released at the upcoming Aug. 4 Board of Ed. meeting.

Feder also asked why most New Jersey colleges, such as Rutgers, will continue to be all virtual this fall, but elementary and high schools are being forced to reopen.

"It is challenging to consider reopening schools when .... state offices remain remote and continue to hold virtual meetings. Indoor dining remains closed, yet 1.4 million children will be asked to eat lunch/breakfast daily inside school buildings. NJ colleges/universities are either closed, or have remote learning in place through the Thanksgiving holiday. If adults are not perceived to be able to wear a mask and social distance in a classroom setting for 50-minute sessions, how are we expecting young children to do so for 6-hours?" wrote Feder.

Feder has been tweeting his concern about schools reopening for some time now, asking on July 25:

Feder's point of view puts him at odds with Gov. Murphy, who declared on Monday his most emphatic stance yet: He wants New Jersey children back in school.

"I believe we must try to include some aspect of in-person education for our children in the fall," said the governor. "Every education expert has confirmed that in-person education is critical, and remote learning is only an acceptable substitute when absolutely necessary."

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