Expect All NJ Schools To Reopen By Fall, Gov. Murphy Says

NEW JERSEY — Gov. Phil Murphy says New Jersey should expect all schools to reopen in the fall as COVID-19 vaccine availability continues to expand, with teachers and perhaps even children getting the opportunity to be immunized.

Murphy made the announcement Monday after revealing that teachers, day care workers and many others will soon be allowed to get the vaccine. Johnson & Johnson also revealed that it plans to test its one-shot vaccine on children. Read more: More NJ COVID Vaccine Expansion: Clergy, Food Workers And More

"I think there are fairly straightforward answers to this," Murphy said. "We would fully expect, assuming things go the direction they're going, that we will be in-person for school in September."

Murphy, speaking during his Monday news conference, said he will "be very surprised and disappointed if we're not."

"I think we will get there, and we are getting there at a minimum in a hybrid format," he said. "But I hope even more full in-person, assuming we can do it safely and responsibly."

Many are also giving hope to Johnson & Johnson's plans to test its one-shot vaccine on children, including adolescents and infants, according to The New York Times and the company's testing plans.

Even though children as a whole may not suffer the same coronavirus effects as adults, many teachers and parents have expressed concern that they could still spread the virus in schools.

Read more: Where To Get The Coronavirus Vaccine In New Jersey

Murphy made the announcement as he's faced mounting pressure to provide vaccines to teachers and possibly order them to return to the classrooms.

Some school districts have stayed remote while many others follow a hybrid model. Both models, however, remain controversial and have spurred demands to fully reopen the schools now that vaccines are available. Read more: Maplewood Parents Ready To Rally As School Reopening On Hold

Murphy hedged when asked if he would use vaccine availability as a reason to encourage — if not order — teachers back into the classroom.

Murphy said he realizes the situation is "incredibly stressful for everybody, for parents, kids, educators, administrators, period, full stop."

The governor said he doesn't have an update on the school reopening guidelines, but he did note that more than three-quarters of instruction already has some amount of in-person learning "and that number is continuing to go up."

Some of the bigger, older school districts that work out of antiquated buildings — with poor ventilation — are not in-person, Murphy acknowledged. State officials are also hoping that Congress will soon pass the Biden administration's coronavirus aid package, which is supposed to address that problem.

"You can't underestimate the stress of the school year," Murphy said. "Educators know that more than anybody. Moms and dads know that more than anybody, and our kids do. But I hope we're a lot more in-person in this school year before it ends." Read more: NJ Expands COVID Vaccine Call Center As CVS Adds Sites

Regarding vaccination of educators, the governor noted that vaccination measures will be ironed out by the state Department of Health, the Department of Education, partners at the New Jersey Educators Association, local school leaders and local education stakeholders. They will work to establish full access without interrupting school days, he said.

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