Staff members and parents of Newark Public Schools’ 38,000 students were advised of the possibility in a letter Monday from Superintendent of Schools Roger León.
“COVID-19 continues to be a brutal, relentless, and ruthless virus that rears its ugly head at inopportune times,” wrote León, whose letter was posted on the Speedway School Facebook page. “We are redoubling our efforts to be prepared for any necessary changes and a potential pivot to remote instruction. Some may move to that point sooner than others, but we all will be prepared if and when necessary.”
Word of Newark schools’ potential return to remote learning follows virus-related decisions by other districts to go remote for the last week of fall classes before the holiday break, which is scheduled to begin with students off on Friday, before the spring semester begins on Monday, Jan. 3.
In fact, León’s letter noted that Thursday’s classes in Newark had been cancelled, and that teachers would use the day to prepare.
“Before then, schools will assist students and families in reviewing and preparing their remote instruction locations,” León wrote. “This includes the availability of technology, connectivity, materials and all necessary links and codes to access learning remotely. All students should be reminded to take their Chrombooks home this week.”
Separately, teachers were directed by their principal to dedicate part of Thursday to insuring they addressed items on a remote instruction checklist, which includes reminders to distribute Chromebooks and chargers, update Bitmoji and Google Classroom online learning platforms, and make sure they have parents’ current phone numbers and email addresses.
A district spokesperson, Nancy Deering, released a statement Tuesday indicating it was by no means certain that the district would switch to remote learning.
“While we are calling this week preparation for remote instruction, we are monitoring various factors very carefully and will announce to students, their families, and the staff any changes,” the statement read.
León’s letter went out the same day that state officials announced that New Jersey had experienced its fifth straight day of more than 6,000 new cases of the virus, and another 11 deaths.
Monday was also when Newark Mayor Ras Baraka announced that masks will be required inside all public places in the city, going beyond the state’s strong recommendation that masks be worn indoors.
The president of the Newark Teachers Union, John Abeigon, said he thought León’s letter and the district’s preparations were prudent.
“Teachers are, by profession, people who are prepared,” Abeigon said. “The first wave last spring (of 2020) caught us off guard a little, and we had to go virtual overnight.”
Abeigon said he had met with León and health officials on the issue, and that a district-wide return to remote learning was “on the table.”
“And we’re prepared for that, and we would advise parents and employers to be prepare for that. But we will not be making that determination,” said Abeigon, who reiterated a plea from Baraka for residents to be vaccinated, boosted or tested. “COVID will decide that for us.”
A drama teacher at Newark’s Abington Avenue School, Elizabeth Camaraza, said she would be prepared to switch from in-person learning if it came down to that. But she hoped it wouldn’t, adding that remote learning is particularly challenging for theater arts instruction, and that it can have an emotional impact on students.
“I hate the idea,” Camaraza said. “It’s devastating for the kids.”
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