Montclair Mayor Calls For Unity As School Reopening Debate Rages – Montclair, NJ Patch

MONTCLAIR, NJ — According to Montclair Mayor Sean Spiller, there’s one thing that all sides can agree on when it comes to the increasingly bitter battle over reopening the district’s public schools.

Everyone wants a safe return – as soon as possible, he says.

Recently, the Montclair Public School District hit the brakes on its plan to reopen for hybrid learning yet again, as cases of the coronavirus continue to rise across Essex County.

The reason? Administrators were “unable to properly staff schools” for in-person learning, according to Superintendent Jonathan Ponds.

The Montclair Education Association (MEA), which represents more than 1,000 local public school employees, has insisted that it’s still unsafe to reopen for in-person classes.

Due to return back for training on Jan. 19, a cadre of MEA members put on a display of solidarity, declining to show up and choosing to continue working online. Since then, the union has entered mediation talks with the district in an attempt to find a pathway forward.

Meanwhile, a group of Montclair parents claim that it’s safe to reopen schools, and their kids are suffering every day that classes remain all-remote.

Last week, more than 100 parents of Montclair students rallied outside Edgemont Montessori School, lining the front lawn of the school with backpacks and demanding that schools reopen.

The debate has grown increasingly fierce, a point that didn’t escape Spiller, who also serves as the vice president of the New Jersey Education Association, one of the most powerful teacher unions in the state.

The mayor touched base on the issue last week in a message to the community. He wrote:

“Everyone wants a safe return to in-person instruction as soon as possible. That includes the parents, educators and administrators that I have spoken with.

“My role as mayor is not to dictate policy for either the board of education or the MEA, however I have encouraged all parties to come together to see if they feel safe conditions have been met at this time. As those charged with making sound educational decisions for our kids, I would be supportive of their collective conclusions, including whether or not vaccines are a prerequisite. They can determine if, like 414 other New Jersey schools, they can safely offer a hybrid of in-person and remote instruction, or if like 270 schools, all-remote is the safe route at this time.

“As we all know, these are unprecedented times and the conditions are currently changing (safety protocols put in place, current infection rate, dominant virus variant, and much more). We in Montclair, like all other districts, must remain flexible and make changes based on conditions as they exist. Whatever we do, with 63 of our family members, friends and neighbors lost to this virus, we must have safety as our top priority.”

Spiller tried to appeal for a joint solution to the standoff again on Sunday during his weekly mayor’s video update.

He said:

“We know how stressful this time is and how easy it is to become divided. But we have to remember that the educators who are nervous are the same ones who work with and care for our students that they love every day. Parents are just trying to figure out what works for their families and to help their children the best they can. Our administration and board of education are trying to navigate all the concerns and ensure safety and education are the top of the core priorities that they’re focused on.”

Spiller added that he’s continuing to press the state for more resources and solutions, including the possible addition of teachers and school staff to New Jersey’s COVID-19 eligibility list.

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