Will Woodbridge Public Schools Stick With Their Hybrid Plan?

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — Will the Woodbridge school district keep to its hybrid back-to-school plan, especially in light of Gov. Murphy's surprise announcement this week that schools can go all virtual if they so decide?

We will have to wait until Aug. 20 to find out.

"Right now no changes have been made to our re-entry plan as a result of the governor’s revisions last week," said Woodbridge schools superintendent Dr. Robert Zega. "We have a board meeting on Thursday so the final decision will be made then."

There will be a Woodbridge BOE meeting next Thursday, Aug 20 from 6:00 to 8 p.m. at Ross Street School. That meeting will also streamed live on local Channel 35 and those residents who are unable to attend in-person may e-mail their public comments to superintendent@woodbridge.k12.nj.us until the end of the Meeting.

Unless the district changes and decides in the upcoming week to go fully virtual, here is how Woodbridge schools will look this September (Or, read the district's plan directly here: https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/847982/NEW_Re-Entry_Plan.doc.pdf):

Phase 1: September, 2020

a. Rotating half day schedule with half of students reporting to school each day. Afternoons will include a one-hour session for teachers to be available to students for extra help, questions or review. The rest of the afternoon will be for planning or professional development for teachers.

i. Monday Group A in-person half day; everyone else remote
ii. Tuesday Group A in-person half day; everyone else remote
iii. Wednesday Group B in-person half day; everyone else remote
iv. Thursday Group B in-person half day; everyone else remote
v. Friday Remote instruction for all
vi. Fully-remote Virtual instruction Monday through Friday
i. Friday is a look ahead day to introduce new content and plan the week for both in-person
and remote learners

"At the end of September we will reassess the progress of the plan and the health conditions of our community," said superintendent Zega.

Phase 2: October/November 2020

a. Rotating full-day schedule for the two groups; students attend the same days, but they will be full days.
b. At the end of October we will reassess the progress of the plan and the health conditions of our
community.

Phase 3: December 2020

a. Return to regular schedules for all students and teachers.

Masks must be worn by all students and teachers. Students will provide their own face coverings. Students who can prove a special need or circumstance will not have to wear a face covering.

In-person students will be certified by their parents that they: Are free of any symptoms, have not been in contact with anyone who has tested positive and have not traveled out of state in the last 14 days. All teaching staff will certify the same.

Social distancing will be maintained at all times, and hand sanitizers and sanitizing wipes will be supplied in each classroom, lavatory, exit doors, and gathering areas.

Hand washing periods will be built into the daily schedule. Younger students will be supervised when hand washing. Middle school and high school students will be required/taught to wipe desks with sanitizing wipes at the beginning and end of each class. Students will also be required to wipe devices regularly.

Busses will be sanitized at the end of each run by school staff. Students will social distance while on busses. If the bus is filled beyond social distancing capacity, face coverings will be required on that run. Meals will be available for pickup every day.

Hear Zega speak in this update Monday, Aug. 10:

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