COVID-19 Could Affect East Brunswick Schools' Reopening Plans

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — The East Brunswick School District is planning a return to the hybrid learning model on Jan. 19. But even as administrators prepare their plans, COVID-19 cases could affect the reopening dates.

At the Board of Education meeting on Jan. 7, school superintendent Victor Valeski said he was in discussions with the board on finalizing return plans.

“Even after tonight the volume and frequency of COVID infractions will be a major factor in my recommendations on when we finalize our return to hybrid instruction,” he said.

Valeski said the district will have to adjust any return dates because of newly discovered safety concerns.

“...But for now, we remain focused on our tiered return beginning with elementary and HMS (Hammarskjold Middle School) students,” he said at the meeting.

Learning Model Forms for Churchill Junior High School and East Brunswick High School will open on Jan. 19, at 3 p.m., in Parent Access. “We plan to return those students to hybrid instruction on Feb. 4,” said Valeski.

Here are some important dates for school reopening:

• Elementary and HMS hybrid students and staff return Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021 at 50 percent student capacity. The Learning Model Form will open for elementary and Hammarskjold Middle School parents through Parent Access on Jan. 4 at 3 p.m., and will close Jan. 8, 3 p.m.
• Churchill Junior High School and East Brunswick High School hybrid students and staff return on Feb. 4, 2021 at 50 percent student capacity. The Learning Model Form will be open for through Parent Access Jan. 19 at 3 p.m., and close Jan. 22, 3 p.m.

The school district shifted to the all-remote model beginning Nov.16, after growing number of COVID-19 cases in the community.

Meanwhile, a few schools across New Jersey have pushed back reopening of in-person classes due to the pandemic.

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