TRENTON, N.J. (1010 WINS) -- New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy on Friday released guidelines for students to return to their classrooms in the fall.
"Now with these unprecedented final months of the school year behind us, our focus turns to what will be an equally unprecedented start to the 2020-2021 school year," the governor said.
Presuming coronavirus infection rates do not spike throughout the summer in New Jersey, the state is recommending all schools districts implement a hybrid approach in which students can receive remote learning instruction some days during the week.
"We have every expectation that our kids will return to their schools come September," the governor said. "Today's guidance comes with one overarching requirement that our public schools will open in some capacity with the health of students, their families and educators being the top priority."
He says there is not a "one size fits all" plan for the roughly 1.4 million students in the state and New Jersey will consider the many geographic, demographic and economic differences among communities.
Murphy notes the state's roughly 600 school districts will have the flexibility to craft reopening plans according to their needs.
Though, there will be a number of requirements, including having all schools create a screening program for students and faculty.
There will also need to be room to ensure a six-foot distance between people, but if that is not possible, then physical barriers must be placed between desks.
While faculty and staff will need to wear face masks, students will be strongly encouraged to also cover their nose and mouths, but not required unless social distancing cannot be maintained.
"I understand this will be no easy feat," Education Commissioner Lamont Repollet said of the return to school. "Knowing that the health of students and staff is our number one concern, our guide will begin to fill in the picture of what a safe education system will look like in the fall."
He notes that the schools will need to implement procedures for the sanitization of the building and buses along with increased handwashing measures.
Cafeteria directors will be encouraged to stagger meal times to allow for social distancing and schools will discontinue self-serve or buffet lines. Recess will also be held in staggered shifts.
Similar to Connecticut's plan to reopen its schools, the school districts are encouraged to follow the "cohorting" system of identifying small groups of students and keeping them together throughout the school day to ensure there is as little exposure to large groups of students as possible.
School bus operators should encourage social distancing and, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, there should only be one student seated per row, skipping a row between each child, if possible. Barriers separating rows of bus seats may also be considered.
The guidance relies upon the most up-to-date data and recommendations from the New Jersey Department of Health and was informed by input from school communities.
State officials note that as guidance changes, so may requirements for reopening.
