Cinnaminson Schools Lack Transparency On Reopening, Parents Say

CINNAMINSON, NJ — Parents expressed frustration with the lack of available information on the Cinnaminson Public School District’s reopening plan amid the coronavirus pandemic during Tuesday night’s board of education meeting.

Four parents spoke during the virtual meeting, asking the district what measures it is using to consider a return to full-time in-person learning, expressing concern over the mental health of students in a remote-learning environment, and asking for more clarity on the district’s plan in general.

A majority of students in the Cinnaminson Public School District attend school in-person two days a week and learn remotely the other three. Superintendent of Schools Stephen Cappello said the district continues to explore options for bringing students back full-time, and has been since the beginning of the school year.

But it most be done safely and when permissible by the state and county health departments and the state department of education.

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“From the beginning, our focus has been on bringing students back as soon as possible,” Cappello said. “We rely on our professionals. Bringing students back is at the forefront of our discussions.”

There are still social distancing guidelines to consider he said, but he also said there’s not one magic data point that will determine when the district reopens for full in-person learning.

“I appreciate your communication on infections, but you should be doing more to let us know as to how the plan is progressing, and what has stopped schools from reopening,” said Ryan Horner, a township committeeman who was strictly speaking as a parent during the public comment portion of the meeting. “I get numerous calls and emails from parents about school reopening. There’s a lack of communication on the part of the board of education.”

The school district has a spreadsheet posted on its website that details coronavirus cases among students and staff since the beginning of the year, including when cases were reported. The most recent case was reported in a student at the New Albany School on Monday.

“Cinnaminson has an excellent reputation for education, and the schools have done a great job, but parents would like further information on the reopening plan,” parent Judy Devone said.

Cinnaminson schools closed with the rest of the state last March when the coronavirus pandemic led to a state shutdown. The closure of the schools, and the shutdown overall, wasn’t expected to last through the end of the 2019-20 school year. However, schools never reopened last year, and the majority of school districts - 446, according to nj.com - are engaged in hybrid learning. Another 86 are opened for full in-person instruction.

The amount of time spent away from peers and in front of screens is impacting students, parents said Tuesday night.

“With the new strains we’re seeing, we have to think this virus might be around for another 20 to 30 years,” parent Dan Pellicone said. “At some point, we need to get back to living life. Kids are losing out on learning day-to-day social skills.”

Jayme Bundy said her child, who is a high school senior, chose to stop going to school in-person because there were as few as two students in some classes.

“Nobody’s there,” Bundy said. “It’s not good for the social and emotional health.”

Even for schools that are open, there are certain health benchmarks that have necessitated closures due to spread. But last month, the New Jersey Department of Health issued modified rules and guidelines that would ultimately make it easier for schools to stay open in spite of cases and outbreaks.

The change came after teachers and parents expressed concerns that the state's rules are too restrictive given that very few of the state's outbreaks have originated in schools. Read more here: NJ Loosens COVID-19 Rules and Guidance For Schools

Some parents have blamed teachers’ unions for keeping schools closed. In Montclair, the school district itself said it plans to sue the teachers’ union in an attempt to reopen in-person classes.
The union is not presenting a problem in Cinnaminson, Cappello said.

“The teachers’ union is not an impediment,” Cappello said. “The teachers have been fantastic since Day One.”

He said, rather, that the district will continue to rely on information from the departments of health and the New Jersey Department of Education.

He acknowledged that community spread is the lowest it’s been in a while in Cinnaminson. Since Feb. 1, there have been 34 new cases of the coronavirus in Cinnaminson, according to numbers provided by the Burlington County Department of Health. The health department doesn’t provide information on specific cases.

There are also two vaccines available to New Jersey residents, although there have been some issues making appointments to get them. The Cinnaminson Rite Aid on Route 130 is one of 20 sites in Burlington County that offer the coronavirus vaccine, including a state "mega-site" at the Moorestown Mall. Read more here: These COVID Vaccine Sites Are Now Open In Burlington County

“I feel your frustration,” Cappello said. “A lot of board members, members of the public and teachers have echoed the same frustrations. As of today, we don’t have a magic date. Every day and every week, we’re looking to bring students back.”