School Steps

25-July-2020
 On Friday-24-July New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy released the State guidelines to safety open the schools in New Jersey. Some of the main points the State has set -out are: 

• Social distancing: Schools and districts must allow for social distancing within the classroom. This can be achieved by ensuring students are seated at least six feet apart. If schools are not able to maintain this physical distance, additional modifications should be considered. These include physical barriers between desks and turning desks to face the same direction (rather than facing each other)or having students sit on only one side of a table and spaced apart.
• Face coverings: School staff and visitors are required to wear face coverings unless doing so would inhibit the individual’s health or the individual is under two years of age. Students are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings and are required to do so when social distancing cannot be maintained, unless doing so would inhibit the student’s health. It is necessary to acknowledge that enforcing the use of face coverings may be impractical for young children or certain individuals with disabilities.
• Limited capacity: It is recommended that students and staff be seated at least six feet apart in class when practicable. When weather allows, windows should be opened to allow for greater air circulation.
• Cleaning/disinfecting: Procedures must be implemented by each school district for the sanitation of school buildings and school buses. Increased hand-washing measures are also important for students and staff.
• Cafeteria directors should consider staggering meal times to allow for social distancing; discontinuing self-serve or buffet lines; having students eat meals outside or in their classrooms; and requiring staff to disinfect eating areas between groups.
• Recess should also be held in staggered shifts, with efforts to promote social distancing and hygiene protocols.
• Co-horting: Schools may wish to identify small groups of students and keep them together (co-horting) to ensure that student and staff groupings are as static as possible, thereby limiting exposure to large groups of students.
• School bus operators should encourage social distancing. CDC guidelines recommend seating on a school bus such that there is one student seated per row, skipping a row between each child, if possible. Barriers separating rows of bus seats may also be considered. If social distancing is not feasible, face coverings must be worn by students who are able to do so. Increased ventilation (i.e. opening windows) is also recommended in the guidelines. 

To view a summary of the New Jersey Department of Education please click on the following link: https://www.nj.gov/education/reopening/NJDOETheRoadBackExecSum.pdf

For the full 104 page  report please go to:  https://www.nj.gov/education/reopening/NJDOETheRoadBack.pdf

On Tuesday-28-July The Bogota Board of Education will hold a Special Meeting to have a public discussion about the Districts plans to start the 2020-21 School year. This will be a virtual board meeting and schedule to start at 7:00p. The Board will be discussing reopening plans for September and will answer any questions. Please click the following link for information on how to access the meeting. https://www.bogotaboe.com/ access to meeting 28-July-2020

Estimada comunidad de Bogotá: 

Habrá una reunión virtual de la junta el martes 28 de julio a las 7 pm. La Junta discutirá los planes de reapertura para septiembre y responderá cualquier pregunta.

Haga clic en el siguiente enlace para obtener información sobre cómo acceder a la reunión. 

https://www.bogotaboe.com/ access to meeting 28-July-2020

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