Belleville Schools Prep For ‘Hybrid’ Reopening Amid Coronavirus

BELLEVILLE, NJ — There will be a mix of online and in-person classes on the first day of school in Belleville. But district administrators are planning for that to change by October.

Belleville Superintendent Richard Tomko gave an update on the plan to reopen amid the coronavirus earlier this week. (Watch the video below)

See the district’s COVID-19 information website here.

According to the restart plan, there will be a “hybrid” mix of online and in-person classes on Sept. 8, the first day of school in Belleville. The lower grades and special education students will be the first groups to attend in-person classes, with the other grades attending class remotely until they’re gradually “phased in,” as per the following schedule:

• Sept. 8 – Pre-K, kindergarten, School 1 and special populations
• Sept. 14 – Grades 1, 2 and 3
• Sept. 21 – Grades 4, 5 and 6
• Sept. 28 – Middle School, High School

The Belleville Education Association expressed concern about the plan, writing that "an overwhelming majority of teachers, nurses, counselors and child study team members do not feel safe returning to in-person learning on Sept. 8."

• See related article: Belleville Teachers Union Leery As Schools Prepare To Reopen

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