Lampitt on Education Committee Hearing Addressing Challenges of Safe and Practical Reopening of Schools Amid COVID-19

(TRENTON) – The Assembly Education Committee met Wednesday to hear testimony with regard to the State’s school reopening guidance issued by the Department of Education as well as what it will theoretically and practically take to safely bring the school community back together for in-person learning amid COVID-19.

Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt (D-Burlington, Camden), chair of the Assembly Education Committee:

“It is safe to say today’s discussion has overwhelmingly proven that everyone, from school administrators to educators, parents and students, would love to see brick and mortar schools reopen this fall, but everyone has concerns.

“Resoundingly, whether schools are adequately equipped to protect the health and safety of their students, staff and greater community is the number one issue among many expressed today.

“While schools have the expertise to figure out how to teach children under new conditions and how to go about sanitizing and cleaning, they have never been up against health challenges of the magnitude we’re facing.

“Lacking consistency and standardization of guidance, dire shortages of school nurses, unknown ratios of educators and students actually ready to come back in-person and a plethora of other logistical and social complexities, the list of questions lacking answers is only growing.

“It is evident at some point we’re going to have to act on the information that we have because, the stark reality is that with roughly five weeks left for schools to safely implement a plan before reopening, time is quickly running out.”