N.J. schools should start remote this fall, teachers union and admin groups say in unified message to Gov. Mu – NJ.com

New Jersey’s largest teachers union and groups representing school administrators on Tuesday called for Gov. Phil Murphy to direct all public schools to offer only remote classes in the fall because of health concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.

The call comes after state officials announced late last month plans for New Jersey’s 2,500 public schools to open for the 2020-2021 school year using a range of measures to prevent the spread of the disease – including masks and social distancing – while letting students return to classrooms.

Richard Bozza, executive director of the New Jersey Association of School Administrators, Patricia Wright, executive director of the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association and New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) President Marie Blistan issued a joint statement directed to Murphy that argues in-person instruction was too much of a risk.

“For months, New Jersey educators and administrators have been working tirelessly to find a way to safely bring students back into school buildings in September. Now, with less than a month remaining before schools are scheduled to reopen, it is time to reluctantly acknowledge that goal is simply not achievable,” the statement says.

“Reopening schools for in-person instruction under the current conditions poses too great a risk to the health of students and schools staff,” the statement says. “The question of whether and when to reopen for in-person instruction is first and foremost a public health decision that cannot be left in the hands of nearly 600 individual school districts. The stakes are too high, and the consequences of a wrong decision are too grave.”

“We fully support and share the governor’s goal of moving to in-person instruction as soon as the science and data say we can do so responsibly and when the resources are available in our school buildings to do it safely,” it went on.

“We wish it could be different, but the facts are not in our favor. Our nation is in the middle of an uncontrolled pandemic. Our state, while doing better than many others, has not yet stopped the spread of this virus, particularly among the same young people who are scheduled to return to school in under four weeks.”

The association heads said districts have struggled to meet “minimum standards” for reopening provided by officials.

“Inadequate levels of funding, staffing, equipment and facilities will result in inequities in the level of safety afforded to all New Jersey students,” they added.

“We have seen what is happening elsewhere in the country where, within a few days of opening, schools are having to transition to remote learning following outbreaks of COVID-19,” the statement said. “Every day, through research and the experience of other states, we are learning more about the effects of this disease on children and their ability to contribute to community spread.”

“We remain committed to getting back to in-person instruction as soon as it is safe,” the statement concludes. “It is not safe yet.”

The announcement from the state’s leading teacher’s union and groups representing school leaders also comes amid a growing chorus of groups and elected officials calling for the state to keep schools closed because of the contagious illness. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, teachers’ unions in Essex and Atlantic counties, along with the Jersey City school board have made similar calls.

While Murphy voiced strong support for reopening schools earlier this summer, his tone has shifted in recent weeks. He previously declined to comment on whether his administration was rethinking its plan to open schools.

“The return to school will pose challenges, but we are confident that New Jersey’s school districts can move forward in a way that best serves the needs of their district while also achieving a safe environment for students and staff,” Murphy said in June while announcing the plan to open schools.

In mid-July, however, the governor left open the possibility of remote-only learning this fall.

“The strong bias, hope, expectation, the plan is to open,” Murphy previously told reporters when asked if it’s there’s a chance classes may not restart when the next academic year begins in September.

“But if we get close and if we see something, not just on any given day but a trend that is causing enormous concern, we’re not gonna put people’s health at risk,” he said.

The governor was scheduled to hold a news conference Wednesday in Trenton about the state’s response to the pandemic. Various officials, including the state interim education commissioner, were slated to attend. It was unclear if any announcements about the upcoming school year were planned.

Representatives for Murphy’s office and the state Department of Education did not immediately return emails seeking comment late Tuesday.

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Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com.