Mixed Reviews From Parents, Teachers At Jersey City BOE Meeting

JERSEY CITY, NJ — Two days after announcing a delay in reopening schools, the Jersey City Public School District went back to its original plan to reopen next week. At Thursday night's Board of Education meeting, public comment had a range of opinions from residents, but many shared one sentiment: What was the reopening plan?

Public comment ran for over two hours and was full of parents, teachers and community members voicing opinions on the reopening decision. Earlier in the day, dozens of parents rallied in front of the Board of Education building on Claremont Avenue with Mayor Steven Fulop to support the reopening and demand a detailed plan for the rest of the year and the fall. Meanwhile, during public comment, several parents and teachers voiced concern over the district's decision to reopen, citing unsafe conditions in the schools and rising COVID-19 cases in Hudson County.

Samantha Pelletreau, a staff member in the district, said she realized on Friday that she wouldn't be able to use her nebulizer in the classroom when schools reopen. "I have to use my nebulizer every six hours for my asthma," Pelletreau said, "I was left to wait until I went home to receive my treatment — truly the worst hour I had to wait in my life."

Pelletreau has a son with asthma in the district as well and said she is concerned for him if he were to return. She stressed that his school building does not have air conditioning and an inhaler will not be enough for him during the day.

"This needs to be acknowledged and a solution has to be created. No one should be left fighting for a breath," Pelletreau said.

Robert Astuni, a teacher at Abraham Lincoln High School, called in to express concern for the lack of supplies and preparedness in the schools.

"We were made promises about what would be in our school," Astuni said, listing a lack of hand sanitizer, personal protective equipment and cleaning services that the district promised.

"The tech issues in my school are abhorrent, I've dropped more calls since we've been back than I did since September, but you expect us to educate in this kind of environment," Astuni said, "Everybody wants to come back — nobody wants anything short of what's best for the children, but putting us in this situation and constantly changing the rules has redefined flexible in our lives."

Several callers, parents and teachers, expressed gratitude for the reopening but questioned the indecisiveness of the district.

Raven Chan, a parent in the district said she didn't know whether to be happy, disappointed or confused.

"While I understand the importance of getting back into the classroom I'm still confused as to what has significantly changed within the last two days," Chan said, "This district has been flying by the seed of its pants for far too long while throwing stuff at the wall to see what sticks — you still owe teachers and parents a solid plan."

Starting April 29, Pre-K through 3rd grade students will be welcomed back for in-person classes with dismissal at 12:45 a.m. All other grades will be able to return in-person on May 10.

A March survey issued by the district found that 20 percent of parents wanted their children to return in-person, but most parents in the district did not answer the survey. At least 400 staff members in the district applied for accommodations to work remote.

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