By Claire Conway Jones/Special to the Sentinel
NORTHFIELD — With only one dissenting vote, the Northfield Board of Education approved the districts “Next Step” plan to return to a seven-hour full day of classes after spring break. April 12 is the proposed first day of full-day classes.
Northfield School District Superintendent Pete Bretones explained the results of a district-wide survey that gathered input from all stake holders; parents, staff and students.
The choices were a full-day class schedule, a five-hour shortened day or a half-day schedule. The parents surveyed overwhelmingly chose the full-day, in-person option with 58.8 percent. Another 25 percent chose the shortened day and 8 percent opted for the half-day schedule.
The staff choice was quite different, with only 18 percent making the full-day in-person choice, 54 percent voting for the shortened day and the balance choosing half-day.
The students had a say in the survey as well, with 23 percent choosing to return full time, 39 percent wanting to stay with the shorter day and 26 percent voting for the half-day.
“What I believe is best for the children is to bring them back to school full time starting April 12,” Bretones said. “With the health and safety of our students and our staff, plexiglass shields will be installed. All of our teachers will also have had the ability to be vaccinated by then.”
He added that the district is following guidance that indicates having all students in the classroom has not increased the spread of COVID-19.
Students will have lunch in their classrooms; it will be delivered. Also, students will be given breakfast before they leave each day to have at home before arriving at school the following day.
Recess will be at predetermined locations and times, according to district plans.
The board members were in agreement but for Angelic Delcher, who said she is concerned how teachers can possibly cover all their classrooms, adding that the full-day schedule only adds lunch, recess and encore period to the day and brings related arts into the classroom.
Board member Jon Barnett said making a decision has not been without challenges but added that it is time to move forward.
“Looking at all of the options — and they all have risks — we have to get as close to normal as possible. We have to be fluid and recognize there will be challenges for the teachers and the kids,” he said.
Board President Debbie Levitt said it is time to get back to normal.
“The social and emotional health of our students is critical,” she said.
The Northfield Community Middle School students will attend from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the elementary students from 8:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Classes will have in-class and virtual students live-streamed.
In other news, the school board members approved the district budget be sent to the Atlantic County Board of Education for approval.
According to Linda Albright, district business administrator and board secretary, there will be no school tax rate increase for the 2021-22 school year due to additional $436,059 in funding. The district also received an increase in funding for the preschool program that will permit the district to offer free pre-school to more Northfield families.
The public hearing on the school budget is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 26. The meeting will be in-person and also via Zoom.
