Should NJ Schools Reopen? Here's What Nearly 27K Residents Think

NEW JERSEY — The debate over when and how to reopen schools in New Jersey during the coronavirus pandemic is in full throttle. Nearly 27,000 residents of the Garden State have firm beliefs on what should happen next.

This past week, Patch sites across New Jersey shared a non-scientific poll asking our readers to share their thoughts on the issue.

We asked: Should schools reopen? If they do, would you send your children? And what about masks? Should kids be expected to wear them throughout the school day?

We received nearly 27,000 responses to our poll. The results show a somewhat-even split on sentiment about returning their children the classroom during the coronavirus pandemic — which in New Jersey has so far infected more than 176,000 people and resulted in more than 13,700 confirmed deaths. Read more: NJ Coronavirus, Reopen Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

But one thing is certain from this poll: New Jerseyans strongly believe that, as of right now, it's also too soon to go back to school in September.

Gov. Phil Murphy has issued a list of rules and guidelines for reopening schools this fall amid the coronavirus outbreak. He's said that, right now, he favors going back to school, but he could "flip the switch" if there is an uptick in cases. Read more: Gov. Murphy Issues NJ School Reopening Rules Amid Coronavirus

New Jersey teachers, meanwhile, have developed what may be considered a strict set of possible ground rules for getting kids back to school in the fall — and these demands could ultimately be a factor when Murphy ultimately decides whether to "flip the switch." Read more: NJ Teachers Develop Possible Back-To-School Coronavirus Rules

Murphy did announce Monday that New Jersey will offer a remote-learning option for schools during the coronavirus outbreak. Read more: NJ To Offer Remote-Learning Option For Schools Amid Coronavirus

Our poll also found that while many parents do support a return to the classroom, putting their children back on that school bus won't come without trepidation.

Students have not been in the classroom since mid-March, when the onset of the coronavirus pandemic forced schools to shutter their buildings and move to online learning.

Of the nearly 27,000 responses, 54.7 percent said it's "too soon" to return students to in-person learning this fall. Nearly 34 percent had the opposing opinion, saying students should return.

Those who responded were split on this question: Will you send your own children back to school?

Of the nearly 27,000 responses, 34.8 percent suggested they plan to send their children back to school but that it would depend on how coronavirus cases are trending in New Jersey. Nearly 34 percent said they won't send their children back regardless, while nearly 32 percent said they will.

Meanwhile, masks — and people's views on wearing them — have taken on political overtones throughout the progression of the pandemic. But public opinion on masks in school settings was clearly on one side in our poll.

More than 73 percent of respondents say all students should wear masks. Only 17.3 percent said no.

For the final question, we asked people: On a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest, how great are your fears of sending your kids back to school?

The consensus here was clear: Most parents are highly concerned even if they want kids to return to the buildings this fall.

More than 45 percent ranked their fears a 5 — the highest level. Just about 18 percent ranked their fears at the lowest level.

We also received hundreds of comments from survey respondents, who expressed in varying degrees their beliefs on whether they think schools should be open.

Here is a look at some of the comment highlights (note: responses shown were not edited):

• Being someone who has lost my mother due to COVID-19, who witnessed my mother suffer from this awful virus and to know how dreadful and hurtful and painful this virus has caused my mother and this family. I feel the kids should continue to do remote learning or parents should have a choice. This virus has not affected many of the young but it has affected some so that doesn’t excuse children and teenagers from the virus at all. Give us an option to send our kids to school or do remote learning. I choose remote!!! I rather my kid safe than sorry. Plus he has asthma so I definitely don’t want to send him.
• I don't understand why nobody in the media has asked Gov. Murphy or the superintendents if it doesn't make more sense to START FALL REMOTELY? There are several reasons why this model is better and being used by a few states and large cities: Vaccines and antibody therapeutics due in December/January; it would give Congress time to get funds to schools for retrofitting and PPE; stop flu from spreading; CDC internal documents say school reopening is a major risk as a super-spreader event. Research shows curve came down in March 3 weeks after schools closed!
• No where do I see anything about protecting the other members of the household, from contacting the virus, from an asymptomatic child. Our daughter works four days a week so we gladly take care of his son. There are many grandparents in the same situation. Are we suppose to ask our daughter to move out to protect her father? Does this mean we don't see our grandson til school is over?
• Perhaps school district administrators, school administrators and teachers should have their salaries prorated based upon how many days schools are actually in session. I also believe property taxes should be prorated the same way. Why should property owners have to pay full taxes when schools aren’t in session or in session part-time for many students? If baseball players have their salaries prorated based upon the number of games they play why can’t we do that for schools?
• Your school survey should include some questions about the safety of the teachers. Where my son works, children are not required to wear masks. However, he has to wear a mask all day. In addition, he has small children and a new baby at home so the survey you gave out represent to concern for the children but it didn't represent concern for the teachers.. I think you should modify your survey with questions that also talk about the safety of the teachers and their families.
• I'd like to see special education students return first. I don't have any special education children myself, but I know those students/families need the most help. Along with special education, priority should be given to those students on meals and/or with limited Internet connectivity. After that, 5th graders should be added because they are the oldest of the non-switching-classes (i.e. one teacher). From there, walking it down 4th, 3rd, 2nd, 1st, K. Delay adding students if there is any increase. Use ALL entrances and exits to buildings to minimize passing. Use ALL buildings (max dispersion of students) as we add grades. I have high schoolers, so this is decidedly NOT to their benefit, but older students have technological "advantages" that should be exploited, and all things equal, they should be the last to return.

Note: This survey was not a scientific poll, with random sampling and margins of error, but can be considered a broad indicator of public sentiment.