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Paterson schools reopening for teachers on June 1, says superintendent | Paterson Times

Paterson schools reopening for teachers on June 1, says superintendent

eileen-shafer

School board members on Wednesday night voted to begin reopening school buildings for in-person learning beginning on June 1.

Superintendent Eileen Shafer, who had twice postponed reopening schools, recommended the Board of Education vote to reopen schools for teachers next month.

School board members voted 8-0 approving her recommendation.

“The district has gone above and beyond,” said school board member Corey Teague.

Shafer said the district spent nearly $20 million to prepare schools for reopening.

Teachers last week argued school buildings are still not safe for in-person learning.

Schools have been closed since March 2020.

Shafer said June 1 will be a full day for staff. Teachers will work Monday through Friday in person and remotely on Fridays.

Special education students in pre-k to 12th grades and newcomers at schools New Roberto Clemente and School 15 are expected to be in school from 8:30 to 1:10 p.m. on June 8, said Shafer.

“We’re phasing in,” said Shafer.

Shafer did not say when all students will return to in-person schooling.

“We expect push back,” said school board vice president Manny Martinez. Teachers have vehemently opposed reopening schools. Many told the school board they wanted to return in September. “Our students have been suffering because they haven’t been able to get back into our buildings and back into a sense of normal learning.”

Martinez said teachers should have been back in the buildings “long time ago.” He said some teachers have been getting on planes, going on vacations, going to restaurants, and going to malls while arguing it’s unsafe to return to teach students in-person. He said it’s “shameful” for the same teachers to argue they cannot come to work in-person to teach students.

“To imply for one second that we’re putting you in an unsafe position by asking you to come to work is ridiculous. It is ridiculous. You go to malls, hop on planes, live your lives, do everything you can. Come back to work? ‘Oh no, you’re jeopardizing our lives and our safety.’ Oh, going to malls, restaurants, living your life hopping on planes is not? But you can’t come to work,” remarked Martinez. “That’s not everyone. I’m not making a blanket statement.”

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  • John

    Paterson schools opening for 2 weeks. Oh wow that would really help and make up for all the lose. WHY WAIT? OPEN NOW LOSERS.

    • Titi Nina

      They are not opening for all students. All staff will be reporting and specific Special Education classrooms. Also the newcomers program students at two of the nearly 50 schools.

  • HankMorgan

    Further evidence of Shafer’s incompetence.
    And you gotta love Martinez. “I’m not making a blanket statement,” he says, after making a blanket statement. Laughable!

  • Titi Nina

    Despite their loose use of the meanings of EVERY, SAFE and PREPARED, my classroom is the opposite of those. One of our biggest concerns is ventilation. The work order for the HVAC unit in my classroom says "unit not working" dated 4/12/21, days before the scheduled inspections by the District and Union delegates. Do you think it will be operational on June 1st? I wouldn't bet my money on it. BUT HOW DARE I SAY THE SCHOOLS ARE NOT SAFE! According to the Board VP.

    • HankMorgan

      Right? During my time as a union rep I grieved the truly disgusting and unhealthy conditions of the HVAC systems at RPHS. Instead of changing the filters the chief custodian locked access to each unit, room by room. All approved by the idiotic building administration.

  • Titi Nina

    Martinez says the students have been suffering, yet the majority of the students will remain learning remotely. Sounds contradictory.

  • MarquinhoGaucho

    You know what is shameful Manny Martinez the hundreds of thousands of dollars we have paid to your sexual harassment victims? Its shameful that a perv like you not only gets hired by another charter , but then you do the same thing in the new school. If Charters hire sexual predators like you and Danny Necimo, I would keep my kids as far away from charters . ANyway the teachers are going back but 95% of the students are staying home. The kids get out at 1pm and most parents work and cant be leaving to pick up their kids. so its easier for them to stay home and do what they;ve been doing all year.

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