Gov. Murphy Issues NJ School Reopening Rules Amid Coronavirus

NEW JERSEY – Wearing masks and social distancing will be a regular part of instruction now that schools will be reopening in New Jersey this fall.

But there's a lot more to the state's rules that you may find interesting – or, perhaps, reassuring or even frustrating – as schools face months of retrofitting and reconfiguring to make sure their buildings are safe.

And if you believe your child is not safe, you have the option to have him or her learn from home, provided that there is what's considered an acceptable reason.

Gov. Phil Murphy has issued a list of rules and guidelines for reopening schools this fall amid the coronavirus outbreak, saying the state is ready to rise to the challenge of dealing with "an unprecedented time for our students and educators" (see the rules below; you can also watch the news conference below).

The rules haven't come without controversy. New Jersey's teachers union says it's just not plausible to open up on time in September amid the coronavirus crisis. Here's why. Read more: NJ Teachers Union: Not Safe To Open Schools On Time Amid COVID-19

New Jersey has updated its school rules and guidance as officials have increased pressure to shut school buildings because of the coronavirus crisis. Read more: NJ Provides More School Guidance As Pressure To Go Remote Mounts

New Jersey teachers also have developed what may be considered a strict set of possible ground rules for getting kids back to school in the fall. Read more: NJ Teachers Develop Possible Back-To-School Coronavirus Rules

Murphy also has announced that New Jersey will provide a remote-learning option for schools amid the coronavirus outbreak. Read more: NJ To Offer Remote-Learning Option For Schools Amid Coronavirus

And, New Jersey officials have released the state's list of rules for districts to follow if they have any hope of having in-person instruction amid the coronavirus crisis this fall. Read more: NJ Issues Rules For In-Person Education In Schools Amid COVID-19

Murphy said he and Department of Education Commissioner Lamont Repollet are confident that the rules and guidance they've developed for reopening all grades, K-12, in schools will provide for a safe learning environment.

But Murphy also said the "switch could be flipped" to remote learning if there is a resurgence of the virus.

“The return to school will pose challenges, but we are confident that New Jersey’s school districts can move forward in a way that best serves the needs of their district while also achieving a safe environment for students and staff," Murphy said.

Here are the main rules and guidelines designed to protect students and staff in the classroom:

• Face coverings are required for teachers, staff and visitors.
• Students are strongly encouraged to wear masks, but they must wear them if they can't maintain 6 feet of distance.
• Face coverings should not be worn if they present a risk to a person's health.
• Disinfecting and hand-washing procedures must be established for buildings and buses.
• Students should be placed 6 feet apart. Barriers should be installed and desks should face in one direction if distance rules can't be followed.
• When weather allows, windows should be opened to allow for greater air circulation and if air conditioning isn't available.
• Use of shared objects, such as pencils, crayons and paper, should be limited.
• Reading circles will be prohibited.
• School districts should protect staff and students who are at higher risk for severe illness, such as providing options for telework and virtual learning.

Here are the main rules and guidelines designed to protect students and staff on buses:

• If social distancing can't be maintained on buses, then drivers must ensure students wear face coverings.
• Windows on buses should be open, if possible.
• School buses and other vehicles used to transport students at least daily should be cleaned and disinfected, preferably between routes.
• Bus arrival and drop-off times or locations should be staggered, or other protocols should be established to limit contact between people and direct contact with parents as much as possible.

Here are the main rules and guidelines designed to deal witgh students and staff who show symptoms:

• Students and staff with symptoms related to COVID-19 must be safely and respectfully isolated from others.
• Screening policies must be established for students and staff if they have symptoms or they've been exposed to COVD-19 (see list of rules below).
• Screening can include temperature checks.

Here are the main rules and guidelines designed to protect students and staff during meal times, physical education classes and recess:

• Meal times must be staggered to allow for social distancing in shared cafeterias.
• No self-service or buffets are allowed. Grab-and-go meals are allowed.
• Recess must be staggered.
• Schools should consider closing locker rooms
• Playground equipment must be disinfected between groups.
• School districts should encourage students to wear comfortable clothing and safe footwear to school so they can participate in physical education classes without needing to change.
• All extracurricular activities must comply with applicable social distancing requirements and hygiene protocol.

Here are the main rules and guidelines designed to protect students and staff by encouraging them to use hand sanitizer:

• Hand-sanitizing stations with alcohol-based hand sanitizers should be located in each classroom, at entrances and exits of buildings and near lunchrooms and toilets.
• Children ages 5 and younger should be supervised when using hand sanitizer.
• Students should wash hands for at least 20 seconds at regular intervals, including before eating, after using the bathroom and after blowing their nose/coughing/sneezing.
• School district reopening plans should include providing physical guides, such as tape on floors or sidewalks and signs on walls, to help ensure that staff and students remain at least 6 feet apart.

Here is how districts should deal with contact tracing:

• If a school district becomes aware that a person who has spent time in a district facility tests positive for COVID-19, district officials must immediately notify local health officials, staff and families of a confirmed case while maintaining confidentiality.
• All school district administrators, school safety specialists, counselors and any other staff deemed appropriate by the school district should be provided with information regarding the role of contact tracing in keeping school communities safe from the spread of the contagious disease.
• School districts should collaborate with the local health department and engage their school nurses to develop contact tracing policies and procedures, as well as educate the broader school community about the importance of contact tracing.

Students and employees may be asked to leave or not come into school if they test positive for COVID-19, or exhibit one or more of these symptoms:

• A fever of 100 degrees or greater
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Chills
• Repeated shaking with chills
• Muscle pain
• Headache
• Sore throat
• New loss of taste or smell
• Fatigue
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

If students or staff get sick, school physicians and nurses should:

• Be utilized in addressing the needs of students in both remote and hybrid scenarios.
• Engage school nurses in planning to meet the physical health, dental and mental health needs of students in virtual, hybrid or in-person school environments.
• Reinforce and adjust screening processes to identify students who may have had unaddressed health or dental needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Consider a virtual school health office model to address school health needs

Regarding bathrooms, schools should:

• Avoid crowds by limiting the number of students who can enter at a time.
• Designate staff members to enforce limited capacity and avoid overcrowding.
• Consider purchasing no-touch foot pedal trash cans, if possible.
• Prop doors open to avoid touching handles.

For students' entering and exiting, districts should:

• Minimize interaction of students between drop-off and entrance to school facilities.
• Stagger arrival and drop-off times or locations or put in place other protocols to limit contact between people and direct contact with parents as much as possible.
• Establish separate entrances and exits to school facilities where possible.
• Require visitors and parent/guardians to use their own pen for signing in/out.
• Create “one-way routes” in hallways.
• Maintain social distancing in hallways and common areas.
• Minimize the number of non-essential interactions between students and staff throughout the school day.
• Limit commingling between classes or other district-set groups of students.
• Minimize large group gatherings.
• Create a system that allows for physical distancing.
• Provide hand sanitizer at school entrances.
• Place signage around school buildings to provide hygiene advice and reminders (CDC offers printable resources and hand-washing posters).
• Increase frequency of cleaning all surfaces, including walls (to the appropriate height based on age of students).
• Limit the number of students in the hallway at the same time by staggering release from classrooms.
• If feasible, install physical barriers, such as sneeze guards and partitions, particularly in areas where it is difficult for individuals to remain at least 6 feet apart (such as reception desks).
• Consider a schedule that limits access, if at all, to lockers to keep traffic in the hallways within social distancing protocols.
• Most schools have limited entry/exit points for security purposes, but additional entry/exit points may need to be established to ensure a balance of social distancing and security protocols.

Early childhood programs should:

• Keep children 6 feet apart during nap time (they can have cots oriented head to foot), when eating and doing other activities.
• Avoid close group learning activities like reading circles.
• Designate times on the schedule to take students out of the classroom to wash hands with soap and water, including, at a minimum: at the start of the day when children enter the classroom; before snacks and lunch; after using the toilet or helping a child use a toilet; after sneezing, wiping and blowing noses; after snacks and lunch, particularly if hands are sticky, greasy or soiled; or when students come in from outdoor play or recess

For school districts that provide services to medically fragile students and students with complex disabilities:

• Ensure mechanisms to secure personal protective equipment prior to opening and maintain ongoing supplies, in order to remain open.
• Strongly consider the need for additional cleaning staff to ensure continuous disinfecting of classrooms and therapy rooms that service students with complex disabilities where multiple tools are used for communication, mobility and instruction.
• Consider the need for heightened monitoring and frequent hand-washing which will often require hand-over-hand assistance.
• Limit use of supplies and equipment to one group of children at a time and clean and disinfect between use.
• When possible, ensure adequate supplies to minimize sharing of high touch materials to the extent possible.
• Avoid sharing electronic devices, toys, books and other games or learning aids, or thoroughly clean and disinfect between use.
• Keep each child’s belongings separated from others’ and in individually labeled containers, cubbies, or areas.
• Increase circulation of outdoor air as much as possible, for example, by opening windows and doors.
• Do not open windows and doors if doing so poses a safety or health risk (e.g., risk of falling, triggering asthma symptoms) to children using the facility.
• Larger rooms (i.e. auditorium, cafeteria, gym) can be used as classrooms to allow for social distancing.
• Turn desks to face in the same direction (rather than facing each other) or have students sit

Murphy said the guidance has been in the works for weeks and takes into account the "many differences" that exist between districts, whether they're geographic, demographic or economic. But he also left it up to districts as to how to apply these rules.

Some districts have even talked about:

• Keeping the high schoolers in their districts at home while allowing K-8 to go to the school buildings.
• Alternating schedules and even having split sessions.

"There is no one-size-fits-all guidance," Murphy said.

The rest of the guidance can be found here.

Boards of education were given flexibility that "recognizes and respects" the differences between districts, he said.

The update comes as Motor Vehicle Commission in-person services were delayed. Read more: NJ Delays Reopening Of Driver's License, MVC In-Person Services

Watch Murphy here:

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