Central Regional Schools Won't Pursue All-Remote Option

BERKELEY, NJ — Despite changing guidance from state officials and a new option to begin the school year completely virtually, the Central Regional School District will move forward with its reopening plan, officials said.

New Jersey families still have the option for their children to learn without physically attending school. Seventy-five percent of Central Regional students' families wanted them to return to school, while 25 percent opted for all-virtual learning, according to Superintendent Dr. Triantafillos Parlapanides.

"The students and our taxpayers are our bosses so we need to accommodate their desire to return to school," Parlapanides told Patch.

Parlapanides outlined the reopening plan in the video below:

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Governor Phil Murphy announced last week that districts can choose to begin the school year with all-remote learning. At least two-dozen districts — mostly in North and Central Jersey — have chosen this option.

The New Jersey Department of Health also offered its own guidelines Thursday for keeping schools open in the fall. The guidelines lists scenarios in which the DOH would recommend school closures, including identification of two or more cases within 14 days across multiple classrooms. Read more: Here's How The Coronavirus Could Close Any NJ School

Since last week, several school districts — mostly in North Jersey — have opted to begin the 2020-21 school year with completely remote learning. The Toms River Regional School District will also begin the year with fully virtual learning. Read more: Toms River Schools Starting 2020-2021 With Remote Learning

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