Impact Of Gov Orders On Parsippany Schools Is Unclear

PARSIPPANY, NJ—As the start of the school year looms, Governor Phil Murphy said on Wednesday that districts can opt for all-remote instruction this Fall, a reversal of his previous position that some in-person classes had to be offered. Murphy also said that in-person school can resume immediately—with a catch.

"In-person instruction may fully resume immediately should institutions so desire and so long as social distancing among other protections are strictly adhered to," he said.

Districts that cannot meet New Jersey's core health and safety standards for in-person school will begin the year with all-remote instruction, the governor said. The state requirements include social distancing, masks, proper ventilation, and other precautions.

Murphy made today's announcement as some school districts, including Elizabeth, defied his previous order and announced remote-only instruction this Fall. The state's teacher's union yesterday called for Murphy to mandate remote-only schooling this Fall.

"The question of whether and when to reopen for in-person instruction is first and foremost a public health decision that cannot be left in the hands of nearly 600 individual school districts," said a statement released yesterday by the New Jersey Education Association. "The stakes are too high, and the consequences of a wrong decision are too grave."

The Parsippany School District presented its reopening plan, a cohort hybrid with virtual Fridays, last month. At the presentation, the superintendent, Dr. Barbara Sargent, said the only model the district considered which used 100 percent remote learning was only for high school and middle school, with elementary students spread throughout the township's 14 schools.

"The facility needs and the transportation issues associated with this particular model kept us from considering it seriously," Sargent said of the idea, in July.

It was unclear on Wednesday if the district currently has a plan for all students to learn remotely if necessary. Sargent did not return a request for comment.