Parents demand case numbers after WWRSD goes full remote learning over Covid-19

Saying "We're not teachers," a small group of working parents took to the grounds in front of the Westwood Regional School District offices on Oct. 19 to protest the administration's weekend closure of all school facilities. Physical classes resume Monday, Nov. 2.

TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON, N.J.—A new message from the superintendent of the Westwood Regional School District is coinciding with a parent protest, organized over social media, at the high school campus after families were informed on Sunday that all district school buildings are closed for two weeks over new Covid-19 diagnoses.

Westwood Regional School District opens its doors on Monday, Nov. 2. According to Superintendent of Schools Raymond A. Gonzalez, the schedule for the return to in-person learning is:

  • Monday, Nov. 2 for Group 1 in person.
  • Tuesday, Nov. 3 full remote for Election Day.
  • Wednesday, Nov. 4 for Group 2 in person.

Up to a dozen parents gathered on high school grounds just off Ridgewood Road between 3 and 4 p.m. today, waving to many drivers honking in support, to say that the entire district shouldn’t shutter over what appear to be a small number of positive cases—and to say that remote learning doesn’t work for them.

“We’re looking for actual numbers of cases in the district. We’re not looking for names, just numbers. If there’s an increase in numbers, that would justify shutting it down,” said Anthony Greco, who has three kids in the schools: one at the regional middle school and two at Brookside Elementary in Westwood.

Jennifer Puccio, who has a student at Washington Elementary School, said, “I’m hoping to get my child who is 7 years old … back into school, get everybody’s kids back into school, for face-to-face learning. Kids are not learning with remote, Zoom, none of it. It’s not helping. It’s not giving our kids the education they deserve.”

As part of the all-school outreach, Shelley LaForgia, principal at the newly renovated and expanded Westwood Regional Middle School, told families in part, “All Zoom links remain the same unless teachers have communicated to students otherwise. Our school-wide Remote Learning website is available for reference again. Meal distribution will continue as scheduled, but is moved to the Main Entrance. Full remote tours and school pictures will be rescheduled.”

Administration seeks to clarify

At 2:32 p.m., Gonzalez addressed the entire Westwood Regional school community with comments and a FAQ:

Let me begin by saying that I share everyone’s frustration and concern with the challenges associated with this public health emergency and the impact it has had on all of our lives. We are acutely aware of the academic and social-emotional struggles of our students during this time and remain committed to working with our families to support their well-being.

After my announcement yesterday, I received several inquiries requesting additional information surrounding the decision to transition to full remote learning in all our schools. While I cannot provide the level of specificity desired in all cases, I can share the following answers to the frequently asked questions.

Why was the decision communicated on a Sunday afternoon?

  • The Northwest Bergen Regional Health Commission (NWBRHC), our local health department, was investigating additional cases in the community over the weekend and reached out to me to set up a video conference at 2 p.m. on Sunday to discuss their concerns and a plan of action. An hour later, the Board of Education was notified, and less than after that, the community was notified.

What’s the data behind the decision? How many cases are there in the district? Why won’t the district share the information?

  • As in the spring, the district is not authorized to share public health data. That is the responsibility of the department of health.
  • To view the latest statistics from the NJDOH, you can visit their COVID-19 Dashboard.
  • The Department of Health is aware of more cases in the community than the school district is aware of which certainly factors into their decision-making. Furthermore, the fluidity of the numbers is based upon the number of cases that are reported, active, presumed, confirmed, asymptomatic, etc. with new cases and lab results coming to light even on the weekend.

Is my child at risk?

  • Anyone who is required to quarantine will have received direct communication from the school and/or NWBRHC. If you have not received such notification, please continue to monitor your child’s health and reach out to your pediatrician if your child develops any symptoms.
  • The transition to remote learning for 14 days was made specifically to reduce the transmission potential in our schools. While not in school, everyone is reminded to adhere to the CDC guidelines.

Who made this decision? Why didn’t the Board of Education vote on it?

  • With regard to all decisions relative to public health, this decision was made by the Superintendent in consultation with the NWBRHC. Put simply, as the public health experts, the department of health makes the recommendation and the Superintendent follows it. 
  • The NWBRHC also consulted with the NJ Department of Education who concurred with the decision.
  • The decision falls entirely in the realm of administration, not governance, which is the reason the Board of Education did not vote on the decision but was informed of it.

Why does this decision not follow the NJDOH K-12 Recommendations for Local Health Departments?

  • Per the document, “Closure is a local decision that should be made by school administrators in consultation with local public health. While it is not possible to account for every scenario that schools may encounter over the course of the school year, the following scenarios may help inform the decision for when schools should temporarily close.”
  • Based upon the recommendation of the NWBRHC, concurred by the NJDOH, the school district would transition to remote learning for 14 days to reduce the transmission potential in our school community.

While I am truly sorry for the inconvenience this situation presents to many of you, I can assure you that the public health and safety of our students and staff remain at the forefront of our decision-making. While I may not have all the detailed answers or expertise of our public health experts, I can confidently say that the NWBRHC have been amazing partners in supporting our efforts to keep our schools and community healthy. They have been working tirelessly with our staff and families to answer questions and conduct contact tracing to keep everyone safe.
As always, if you notice that your child is struggling and in need of mental health or academic supports, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your teacher, counselor, or administrator for assistance. Stay safe.