Barnegat Schools Moving To 5 Days In-Person Next Month

BARNEGAT, NJ — Barnegat is moving toward more in-person schooling. The Barnegat Township School District will allow students to learn in school five days per week beginning Nov. 16 — albeit half days.

The district sent a survey to the school community about Phase 2 of reopening. According to Dr. Brian Latwis, 62.4 percent of households want five-day, in-person learning; 17.8 percent want a full virtual option; and 19.6 percent want to continue with the hybrid model.

The district's goal is to bring in more students for in-person learning in a safe manner, according to Superintendent Dr. Brian Latwis. But for the time being, Barnegat schools will have to begin with half days.

"Unfortunately, at this time full-day instruction with approximately 80% of the student body in school is not possible due to safety concerns surrounding student lunch and recess at the elementary level," Latwis wrote Tuesday to parents and guardians. "However, as a district we will continue to look for viable solutions to overcome these roadblocks and return to normal, full-day instruction. For now, lunch will be grab and go at the end of the day."

The district developed the plan with the Ocean County Health Department and executive county superintendent. The Barnegat Board of Education must approve the proposal.

Afternoons will consist of a blend of virtual learning and independent work. The fully remote option will remain available.

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State officials have confirmed two coronavirus outbreaks linked to Ocean County schools this fall. But publicly available state data doesn't clarify in which schools they occurred.

"Outbreaks" indicate two or more laboratory-confirmed cases among students or staff within a 14-day period. They must be epidemiologically linked in the school setting, not share a household and not identify as close contacts of each other in another setting.

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