Wall School District Releases Proposed In-Person Plan To Faculty

WALL, NJ – In a letter addressed to Wall Township Public Schools’ faculty and staff, Superintendent of Schools Tracy R. Handerhan detailed a districtwide reopening plan slated to be presented to district families. The July 27 update was released just one day before the plan was to be presented to the public and voted on at a school board meeting.

The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 28 at 7:30 p.m.

The proposed plan is a phase-in model, with the adaptation of each new phase based upon transmission trends. Each transition to a new phase will be contingent upon local and hyperlocal outbreaks. The Monmouth County Department of Health will be consulted regularly throughout the execution of the plan, according to the superintendent.

“Think of this reopening plan as a ‘structure’,” wrote the superintendent. “A structure which our Pandemic Response Teams will use to assemble building-specific academic and operational plans, as well as to tend to the ‘nitty gritty.’”

Here’s how the plan may affect students at each level of instruction:

Primary

• While preschool is already a half-day program, enrollment numbers for the upcoming school year will be determined in a consultation with the Director of Special Services to ensure that social distancing protocol can be followed.

Elementary

• Phase 1: Kindergarten through fifth grade classes will run for five days a week with full enrollment on an early dismissal schedule. Lunch will not be provided to students, with the exception of students requiring free or reduced lunch. Virtual instruction methods will be utilized each week should a need arise for the district to pivot to a virtual-only model. Supplementary furniture, such as bookshelves, may be removed in order to maximize classroom space. Larger classes may be held in “atypical rooms” to allow for social distancing. Phase 1 is expected to last four weeks.

• Phase 2: Students will “ideally” return to in-person instruction full-time if health data allows.The duration of the second phase is to be determined.

Secondary

Wall Intermediate School and Wall High School will be separated into two hybrid cohorts: Red and Blue.

Special education students in self-contained classes will be in school for four days of the week.

• Phase 1: Students in the Red cohort will attend in-person classes on Monday and Thursday and participate in virtual instruction on Tuesday and Friday. Blue cohort students will attend school on Tuesday and Friday and participate in in-person instruction on Monday and Thursday. Wednesday will be a virtual class day for all cohorts. Phase 1 is expected to last four weeks.

“The virtual component is included so the schools will be better prepared to switch to an all-virtual model if mandated by the Governor Murphy,” wrote Handerhan.

• Phase 2: Two models are currently under consideration for Phase 2 at the secondary level. Model 1 includes the same Phase 1 hybrid schedule with a lunch period added. Model 2 sees all students attending in-person instruction for four days a week. A virtual learning day will be held on Wednesday. No lunches will be provided with Model 2, with exceptions for students who require free or reduced lunches.

Both Model 1 and Model 2 will follow an early dismissal schedule on virtual learning days.

Phase 2 is expected to last four weeks, with support from health data. “Given the real-time circumstances, the schools’ models for Phase 2 may not be the same,” according to the superintendent.

• Phase 3: “At this point, it is premature to provide a specific model,” wrote the superintendent. “The options in Phase 2 will influence Phase 3. Real-time health trends will also influence the model. Regardless, the hope is to be back in school full time, if possible.”

Face coverings in school will be required to be worn by students and staff, unless an individual is medically unable to do so. “Every effort” to implement social distancing measures will be used. In some instances, the installation of plexiglass barriers may be appropriate, according to the letter.

The district is also in the midst of developing a Wrap Around Program in collaboration with area childcare providers to provide support for working families. More details on the program is expected to come at a later date.

To draft the plan, the district sought input from a variety of sources, including stakeholder focus groups, transportation professionals, food service professionals, mental health professionals and a local epidemiologist.

“Despite the challenges that lie ahead, I welcome the start of this school year,” wrote Henderhan. “All of us have experienced our own personal journey since last March. Some experiences were extremely difficult but I hope some experiences were unexpected bright spots. One of my personal takeaways from the last few months is that I now know camaraderie is essential for me. I have missed a professional community. I look forward to meeting and working with you.”

Have a news tip? Email nicole.rosenthal@patch.com.

Click here to get Patch email notifications, or to get breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our app, download here. Follow Wall Patch on Facebook.