The Gloucester Township Public Schools Board of Education met for a virtual session on Jan. 25 and spent much of its time discussing the district’s decision to extend its fully remote instruction until Monday, Feb. 15.
Superintendent John Bilodeau sent out a communication at the end of the week prior to the meeting informing parents of the remote schedule continuation, citing three consecutive COVID-19 Activity Level Reports with a “high risk” designation from the state Department of Health.
“Guidelines from both the New Jersey Department of Health and the Camden County Department of Health indicate that high-risk levels of COVID transmission support the continuation of a fully remote learning schedule,” Bilodeau said in the communication.
During the recent board meeting, he said his decision was made after he received numerous calls and emails from parents upset with the extension.
“I was not comfortable with the prevailing reports from the New Jersey Department of Health,” the superintendent said. “Based upon a recent spike, specifically the report from the state on Jan. 9, that sent transmission rates in a trend that we were not expecting … They had been lessening each week, but it took a dramatic turn the other way. I was uncomfortable and made the decision to continue to do what our Return to School plan states and said is to follow the science.”
According to Bilodeau, the decision to extend remote learning for an additional two weeks accounts for nine school days, meaning hybrid learners would miss out on four in person days of school.
“I certainly want all of our students to be back in five days a week, but we don’t have the ability, given the guidelines from the state of New Jersey, to even do that with social distancing. So we revert to the in person hybrid,” Bilodeau noted. “But I must also be concerned with not only the students that attend these schools, but also the 1,200 staff members that make everything work.”
One complaint Bilodeau said he had heard from some parents was that nearby school districts were returning to in person learning in some fashion.
“I don’t know the reason why surrounding school districts are going back,” he said. “I only worry about this district right now. I am certainly aware of districts out there that are going back but we set a plan … many months ago … It was based upon science and we continue to follow that plan.”
Solicitor Dan Long, whose firm represents 13 separate school districts, said during the meeting that Gov. Phil Murphy has given each school district its own discretion to determine learning status throughout the school year, meaning each individual school district evaluates its own student body, facilities, staff, environment and more.
“There’s a myriad of different factors and you will see every aspect of the spectrum and every range of possibilities to navigate this unprecedented situation to the best of each school district’s ability,” said Long.
Christina Ruff spoke during public comment in opposition to the recent extension.
“Imagine what it’s like for these young children to sit in front of the computers and do these classrooms,” she said. “It’s not fair and they’re not getting anything out of it. We’ve been out for a very long time now and us parents are just asking for hybrid education for right now.”
Bilodeau reiterated that he wants students in the district to be able to return to in person learning, but only when the school district can guarantee the safety and well-being of its students and staff.
During the board meeting, members approved a date for their next virtual session of Monday, Feb. 22. But the district has followed the practice of holding virtual meetings when the students are on a fully remote schedule, while holding in person meetings when hybrid learning is in place.
The board approved the virtual meeting if it is necessary, but an in person session may instead take place if the district returns to hybrid learning after Monday, Feb. 15.
