Paramus School District Pushes Start Of In-Person Classes Into November
PARAMUS, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- First, it was New York City.
Now a New Jersey school district is pushing back opening day for in-person learning until Nov. 9th. Originally, they were supposed to open tomorrow.
As CBS2's John Dias reports, Meredith Cruz has been working hard, putting last-minute touches on a paper due tomorrow, which was to be the first day of school. She thought she would walk into Paramus High School to turn it in, but that has changed.
"My parents are really stressed, and my friends, because we don't know what we are doing," the incoming 10th grader told Dias.
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Cruz and nearly 4,000 other students who are enrolled in Paramus public school district will have to wait for in-person learning. School administrators announced late last night that the first day for all eight campuses, from preschool through high school, are now delayed.
"It's going to be hard, definitely," Cruz said. "Because online school, we are in a pandemic, and we don't know how to handle it. For students and teachers, we all don't know what we are doing and it's all new to us."
Students were supposed to go back Sept. 3, but instead will start virtual learning then. The start date for in-person learning has been changed to Monday Nov. 9th.
Some are OK with the change.
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"Staying at home until they can get things to the way it should be is a good thing," said Paramus resident Kaitlyn Flynn. "They're trying the best they can, so I get it."
"I guess they're just taking precautions. Everything is safe right now, trying our best to keep it that way. Maybe not taking a risk like that is for the best," said Paramus resident Chris Cepeda.
Other parents say the last-minute change is ruining their schedules, and kids need to go back to traditional learning.
"I think it's terrible. I teach, and teachers are essential. Kids need to be face to face with their teachers. Period, end of story," said Debbie Bargiachhi.
"Children need to go to school. I think it's important for them to socialize with each other and learn those skills," one parent said.
In a statement, Superintendent of Schools Sean Adams says the delay is due to the "seemingly relentless nature of this pandemic."
Faculty say the virtual school day will generally follow the start and end times of the regular, in-person school day. School administrators say the rest of the school calendar year has not changed.
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