By BILL BARLOW/Special to the Sentinel
UPPER TOWNSHIP – Words like “unprecedented” and “extraordinary” have gotten a workout as the world continues to adjust to the pandemic. They both seem to fit the preparations under way in Upper Township and other school districts around the state and around the country as they prepare for the start of a new and much different school year.
Details remain to be worked out, with further changes possible from Trenton, but at the Monday, Aug. 17, Board of Education meeting, school Superintendent Vincent Palmieri outlined the latest version of plans for a hybrid year of in-person instruction and virtual learning.
At the meeting, which saw some participants using remote platforms while others attended in person at the Middle School library, Palmieri said students would be divided into two cohorts, the Eagles and the Phillies, to allow for the recommended social distance in halls and classrooms.
One group would attend classes in person on Monday and Tuesday, the other on Thursday and Friday. On other days, students would attend virtual classes, which Palmieri described as a combination of pre-recorded lessons, remote connections to classes, remote individual time with teachers and independent reading and study.
He told parents and board members that the remote days are required to be equivalent to the in-person learning. Students will have four hours of active instruction on the remote days, he said. Parents would be able to have their children attend school entirely remotely.
At the meeting, Palmieri said the school would be ready to move to an all-virtual or an all in-person schedule during the year if the situation changes. He feels confident that the school could safely hold classes in person, but are unable to under Gov. Phil Murphy’s executive orders.
“We’re starting the year off on hybrid. We could go either way,” he said, either fully remote classes or entirely in person if Murphy gives the OK. “Based on everything that’s out there at this moment in time, I can say to everyone here and in the public, based on the science, based on the statistics that we can open up our schools safely with five days in person, but don’t have the authority to do so until there is some type of relaxation of some of the executive orders.”
As was outlined at a previous meeting, students and teachers will be required to wear masks inside their schools when there is not at least 6 feet of distance between them and another person, and parents are obliged to take students’ temperatures each morning.
Over several days in early September, students will have the chance to meet their teachers, and get their district-issued electronic devices and personal protective equipment.
“Every student will get a device,” Palmieri said. “You’re going to have to use our device.”
The first full day of classes is Sept. 10. Parents will be informed which two days their children will be in school in person before Aug. 24, according to officials.
According to Palmieri, parents with multiple students in the school district will have each of their children in class in person on the same days. However, he added that it was impossible to coordinate that with Ocean City High School or the county high school.
Multiple questions remain, and district officials said the situation continues to evolve. At the meeting, there was some discussion of what will happen when someone moves into the district, or when summer residents decide to remain at the shore and enroll their children in local schools.
To keep the required reduced class size, Palmieri said, it is possible those students would stay with remote learning at least for a while.
There will be some extracurricular activities, Palmieri said, but there, too, things will be different. For instance, for band, students will be able to receive instruction but will not be able to present a performance as they did other years.
“There are no Middle School sports for the year,” Palmieri said, but he promised that would be revisited for the winter season. There would be few other teams to play, anyway, he said, with most schools opting out.
For students attending virtual classes, there will be attendance taken, and students will not be able to set their own schedules, Palmieri said, any more than they could change the time they would like to take an in-person class.
The final details will be coordinated with the New Jersey Department of Education and the Cape May County Department of Health, according to school officials.
Also on the way is a school supply list. Officials say parents will likely not need as many supplies for this year.
“It’s going to look different than ever before,” Palmieri said.
The procedures for the start of the school day will be more extensive, but at the same time, there will be fewer students riding buses each day and fewer arriving at school.
Board members thanked the teachers and staff for the effort put into the plans, saying it was not an easy task and will not be an easy school year. Board President Michele Barbieri said parents are going through a tough time, with worries about the economy and what the fall will look like for their families, including the school schedule.
She said staff bases decisions on the health and safety of the students, while facing the same worries about their jobs and families.
“I hope that as a district we’re going to stay strong, we’re going to stay healthy and we’re going to do this together,” Barbieri said. She said anyone with questions or concerns should reach out to the district administration. “We are here to help you through this.”