The Jersey City Board of Education voted to extend virtual learning through at least February 2nd during last night’s meeting, citing concerns related to the coronavirus.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
” … Due to the current state of the Covid-19 pandemic as well as the recent and projected Covid-19 data, the Board finds that it is necessary for the students to remain under Phase 1 for the remainder of the first marking period and the entirety of the second marking period ending February 2, 2021,” the approved resolution says.
The measure was approved by a vote of 8-0(1), with Trustee Joan Terrell-Paige abstaining.
In August, the Jersey City BOE okayed a remote learning plan through September, which was extended until at least mid-November – the end of the first marking period – last month.
Jersey City joins schools districts such as Newark, Dover, and Bloomfield in extended their virtual learning plans through at least the early portion of 2021 with coronavirus cases on the rise throughout the state.
In an Instagram post where he announced the latest extension, Trustee Mussab Ali wrote that “we are continuing to survey to determine appropriate screen time for students,” later adding they are “considering cutting screen time significantly.”
Prior to schools reopening in September, Gov. Phil Murphy (D) said that school districts would only be able to commence remote learning plans if they presented a plan to return to hybrid learning – utilizing both the classroom and virtual tools to teach.
For the time being, he has remained optimistic that a return to all remote learning won’t be necessary.
