Point Pleasant Boro: 5 Percent Of Teachers Have Gone Remote

POINT PLEASANT BORO – Superintendent Vincent Smith said school operations are moving smoothly even though 5 percent of the district's faculty is teaching virtually amid the coronavirus crisis.

Smith said 5 percent of the district's 278 teachers – roughly about 14 – are teaching remotely in the district.

Smith said he was pleased with the amount, noting that other districts across the state have numbers that are a lot higher.

The superintendent said the district has also managed to function properly even though every district in New Jersey is struggling to find substitute teachers to assist their teachers.

"They're doing a good job," Smith said about the teachers during a recent school board meeting. "I'm pleased with what we've done here; I've just wanted to really emphasize that."

At least one board members pointed out that there were technical problems with at least one class, but Smith said the problem has been "rectified."

"I really feel comfortable with what we've done," Smith said.

Smith made the statement even though a number of Point Pleasant Boro teachers and staff had asked for leave or to work remotely as the coronavirus crisis continues.

Smith, speaking during a Board of Education meeting earlier this month, said the district had, at that point, at least 26 requests to work remotely and at least 16 were approved and two were denied.

Smith has said the district was looking to hire additional people to make up for the staff deficit "right up through the first of the year and beyond."

Smith said teachers and staff have cited medical reasons for not wanting to be in the building.

"We value our staff," he said, "and to replace them would put us at a great disadvantage."