Central Regional Schools Moving To 5 Days In-Person

BERKELEY, NJ — The Central Regional School District will begin welcoming students back for five half-days of in-person instruction over the next few weeks.

Beginning Monday, April 26, students in grades eight and twelve have the option of returning to school following this new schedule.

Grades seven and nine can return the following week on Monday, May 3, and grades ten and eleven can make the transition on Monday, May 10.

Students will remain in the cohort of their choosing until the end of the school year.

Students interested in switching into a different cohort for the fourth marking period must contact their guidance counselor before the end of the school day on Friday, April 23.

Superintendent Triantafillos Parlapanides announced the transition in a letter to parents on Friday.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major effect on students’ mental health and their ability to successfully learn in a virtual environment,” Parlapanides said. “Recognizing the need to keep our staff safe while making our students’ education needs a priority, the district is moving towards the final phase of reopening for the 2020-2021 school year.”

The final phase of the reopening plan has been organized in accordance with CDC data that found in-person learning in schools has not been associated with substantial community transmission.

Additionally, the district has had mitigation protocols in place since the beginning of the school year using PPE supplies, daily UV machine use, hand sanitizers in every classroom, protective shielding where needed and scheduled daily disinfecting by the custodial staff.

In another letter to parents on Friday, Parlapanides said the district did not use two snow days that were built into the school calendar this year. Due to virtual learning, the district will still meet the state’s 180-day learning day requirement.

To use those two extra days, Central Regional students will have off Thursday, May 27 and Friday, May 28, extending Memorial Day Weekend.

Keep up to date with what's happening in your community by subscribing to your local Patch newsletter here.