Murphy's School Plan Gets Mixed Reviews In Scotch Plains-Fanwood

SCOTCH PLAINS/FANWOOD, NJ — Gov. Phil Murphy's order for all school districts to return to full in-person learning and to eliminate remote learning in the fall is a welcome message for some in Scotch Plains-Fanwood but not all.

Scotch Plains-Fanwood Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Joan V. Mast said Murphy's message is "uplifting news for our students and our district."

"Every educator, parent and student recognizes that there is no substitute for full-day, in-person teaching/learning to foster the academic and social growth of our students. Additionally, the high level of energy required of teachers to instruct students in the classroom as well as those who are attending virtually is not sustainable. Bringing all students back full time into our schools is welcomed by all!" Mast told Patch.

"There is no doubt that this has been an extremely challenging year; but, there continue to be additional reasons for optimism with increased numbers of people vaccinated and the rapid reduction of positivity rates. We are focusing on the positive and moving forward," continued Mast.

Mast noted the school is district is already working towards full in-person learning with elementary students returning this past Monday and middle school students scheduled to return on June 2.

"Opening fully now is laying the groundwork for a successful opening in the fall and reflects the spirit of 'ending strong to start strong,'" said Mast.

While the school district is welcoming Murphy's announcement, not everyone is optimistic.

Danielle Wildstein, one of five parents who filed a lawsuit against the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Regional School District, Board of Education and Superintendent Dr. Joan Mast in late December for keeping students out of school, is skeptical of the announcement.

"While I appreciate the effort on Gov Murphy’s part to have all schools open full time for all students this fall, I do not trust that he will follow through and that it will happen just as it did not happen that all schools opened for hybrid this past September as Gov. Murphy initially said they would," said Wildstein.

"Gov. Murphy hasn't done anything this school year to get any NJ public school open for in-person instruction nor has he held any Superintendent accountable for not opening when they could/should have. He instead sat back and allowed many children to suffer because superintendents made very poor decisions to not open for in-person instruction. All of NJ is almost in the green/low COVID risk category so why aren’t all schools open NOW full time? What is Gov Murphy waiting for?" said Wildstein.

Read More: Parents Sue Scotch Plains-Fanwood Schools For Closing Amid COVID

Murphy made the announcement on Monday saying that since school districts will return to full in-person learning for the 2021-22 academic year, there will no longer be a full-remote option. Read More: NJ Lifts COVID Travel Advisory, Orders In-Person School Next Year

Summer school programs are not impacted. More details on what the safety guidelines and protocols will be for the next school year should be expected in June, Murphy said.

"We are facing a much different world than one year ago when we had to begin planning for this school year," Murphy said. "We know much more about this virus and how it spreads. We have much more on-the-ground experience in fighting it. We have a robust vaccination program that now reaches adolescents as young as 12. As time moves forward, we will gain more knowledge and more tools. We know that we can get back fully in-person safely with the right protocols in place, and that is what we all should be planning to do."

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