'The Road Back': Here's The Plan To Reopen West Orange's Schools

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The West Orange Public School District has a tentative plan to reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Last week, district administrators released details about the proposed plan, noting that “the health and safety of students and staff must remain the number one priority.”

See the full draft plan here.

The district’s plan for a “hybrid” mix of in-person and remote learning will also include an option for parents who don’t want to send their kids back to brick-and-mortar classrooms, Superintendent Scott Cascone said.

• See related article: NJ Issues School Virtual-Learning Rules, But Big Changes Possible

One of the biggest challenges will be finding a place to put all the students and still maintain social distancing, the superintendent said.

“We can, at most, fit a quarter of our student population in our buildings on any given day based upon the social distancing guidelines that have been provided by the state,” Cascone stated. “Needless to say, the district will be unable to accommodate 100 percent of its students on a daily basis.”

In addition, another challenge will be maintaining enough staff members to keep up with in-person instruction, administrators said.

• See related article: School Reopening Is 'Unsafe,' Essex County Teachers Union Says

There are some nuances to the plan, officials said. For example, all staff and students will have to wear face coverings, unless doing so would “inhibit their health.” But in a classroom setting where social distancing can take place (desks are 6 feet apart, or physical barriers are in place), face coverings can be removed while students are seated at desks.

The board of education will hold a virtual meeting via Zoom on Thursday July 30 at 6:30 p.m. See login info here.

The first day of school for students in West Orange takes place on Tuesday, Sept. 8. See the district's COVID-19 resource page here.

Story continues below

FALL SPORTS

Phase 1 registration and workout information for fall sports in the West Orange school district was recently posted to the district website.

The district plans to begin Phase 1 workouts on Monday, Aug. 3.

“Due to COVID, everyone must adhere to strict guidelines,” administrators said.

Any student-athlete who has tested positive for coronavirus or with a high-risk medical condition will need a note from a physician clearing him/her for athletic participation. Final medical clearance will be reviewed and determined by the district’s chief medical officer.

All student-athletes must wear a mask and bring a filled water bottle to the workout. Hand sanitizer will be provided for use both before and after practice, school administrators stated.

Proper social distancing will take place at all workouts, officials said.

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Don’t forget to visit the Patch West Orange Facebook page. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Sign up for Patch email newsletters.