Bernards Parents Protest Remote Decision

BASKING RIDGE, NJ—About 100 parents and supporters protested in front of Ridge High School on Friday over what they said was the Bernards School District's failure to plan for an in-person reopening this fall.

"I hope to show the district that there's a large percentage of parents willing to sent their children to school, said Jason Levitz,"and the superintendent needs to hear our voice."

Many of the protesters carried signs with messages aimed at opening schools and anti-remote learning slogans. As the crowd chanted "open our schools" Levitz added that he has three children in Bernards schools and, as a medical doctor, feels it's safe to hold in-person instruction.

"I have been working full time," said Levitz, "we wear masks, we wash our hands, we wear proper equipment, and I believe with social distancing and those other measures we can go back to school safely."

Lori Albee, one of the parents who organized the event, felt that there was a lack of communication from the district. But she added that parents are open to cooperation.

"I hope we can work together and find solutions to some of the roadblocks," Albee said.

Superintendent Nick Markarian announced on Monday night that Bernards Township schools will not hold in-person instruction until at least Oct. 1.

New Jersey superintendents spent most of the summer operating under the directive that some in-person school was required. But an executive order issued by Gov. Phil Murphy on Aug. 12 reversed course, leaving teachers, school administrators, and parents scrambling to adjust to new, lengthy guidelines for holding in-person classes.

"We want to get back to school as as soon as we possibly can," said Markarian at Monday's meeting. "We need to take some extra time to take care of the staffing, facilities, and PPE in the most responsible way possible."

But for Levitz and about 100 others, who spent 30 minutes demonstrating, the rollback of in-person instruction was unacceptable, whatever the reason.

"Our school district has had five months to figure this out," said Levitz, "there's no excuse to not be able to send our kids into classrooms. The bottom line is, the children need this."