Nutley moves to all-remote instruction for start of school year – NorthJersey.com

After weeks of discussion, the Nutley Public Schools has adjusted its hybrid plans and will be starting the year remotely.

Superintendent Julie Glazer laid out the district’s reasoning for moving to 100 percent remote learning, emphasizing that the district plans to go back to the hybrid model when it is safe enough. Right now, students would return in stages during October, November and December depending on grade level.

After Nutley presented their initial draft plan to the public but did not vote to approve it, Gov. Phil Murphy announced districts were allowed to start remotely if they could not meet health and safety guidelines.

“I’ve been pretty clear that our focus is on the health and safety of our staff and students and on the classroom spaces occupied by our staff and students,” Glazer said.

The high heat index within a number of classrooms throughout the district was one of the biggest factors for the district’s move to remote instruction. Glazer said the district’s HVAC and ventilation systems “struggle to provide the optimum 72-degree learning environment with regularity.”

“In a traditional school year, we can overcome that,” Glazer said.

During her presentation, Glazer outlined the number of schools and classrooms affected by high heat index from lack of air conditioning or HVAC systems in need of repair. Glazer said the district also hopes to utilize the available classrooms for special education assessments and testing for the first few weeks.

The New Jersey Department of Education required the district to include dates for when they planned to transition into the hybrid model, which Glazer said were chosen arbitrarily. The district chose the end of the first marking period and trimester, which had been suggested by the New Jersey Department of Educations. Seventh-through 12th graders are tentatively scheduled to move to the hybrid model on Nov. 9 while the first- through sixth-grade students would move on Dec. 7.

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Special education, ESL, pre-K and kindergarten students, which the district considers to be the most vulnerable students, would return by Oct. 15. Glazer said it will allow them to be introduced to new spaces and establish routines and expectations.

The original hybrid plan had a combination of in-person learning depending on grade levels and programs and all-virtual instruction on Wednesdays for elementary-level students. Older students would have had rotating, in-person days Monday through Friday.

Nutley parent Laura Del Tufo is part of a contingent of parents advocating for their elementary students. The group initially was advocating for some sort of child care for the students, but they’ve shifted their focus to two main points — emergency childcare at little to no cost to parents and a sooner return date for elementary school students.

“We’re advocating for the district to commit to emergency childcare without restrictions,” Del Tufo said.

Parents would like childcare to open in September and to be free or have a minimal fee. Glazer said families in need of childcare will receive written guidance after everything is approved. All students will continue to be taught virtually.

Additionally, Del Tufo and other parents are concerned about the tentative return date.

“These individuals need in-person instruction more than the older children,” Del Tufo said.

The group would like the elementary students to return to school in October, the same time the pre-K, kindergarten, ESL and special education students do.

Parents were expected to let the district know by Aug. 21 if they would continue virtual instruction or if students would utilize the hybrid model when the transition happens.

Kaitlyn Kanzler covers Essex County for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: kanzler@northjersey.com Twitter: @KaitlynKanzler8