Parents of Jersey City delivered a clear message to the Jersey City Public Schools Superintendent and the Board of Education on Monday night. Upon hearing those concerns, the Board, the Superintendent, and the Teachers’ Union came together to deliver a compromise solution – a gradual reopening plan for Jersey City Public Schools for the current 2020-2021 school year.
Pre-K through third grade students will be able to attend in person classes beginning April 29, 2021. School will be dismissed at 12:45pm. There will be two cohorts of in person students and a third cohort of all-remote students. Families will be able to choose the hybrid program or the all-remote program. In person days will be Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, and Wednesdays will be remote learning days.
On May 10, in person schooling will tentatively resume for 4-8 grade and possibly for 9-12 grade as well.
The new agreement seems to better address the various concerns of parents heard at Monday’s public meeting, while still giving the all-remote option to parents who are not yet ready to send their children back to schools. Furthermore, it provides some comfort to parents that the school district is on track for a full reopening in September for the 2021-2022 school year.
It also seems to reflect the fact that the vast majority of educators were prepared to return to the district’s schools. Parents and educators alike agree there is more work to be done, but for now, it seems like the district is attempting to address the interests of all stakeholders with the goal of educating the city’s 30,000 students.
