November 12, 2020
Dear Ramsey and Saddle River Families,
We plan to move into the next phase of Ramsey’s Hybrid Learning Plan, with more in-person time for every student starting Nov. 30. More about that below.
We’re making this change in Ramsey while, coincidentally, the rate of COVID infections is rising across the nation. One obvious question is, “Why now?” There’s more than one answer, but in brief:
- Our transition to Phase 2 is part of a long-range plan, compared to our shorter-term reactions to episodic confirmed cases. The schedules and instructional model in Phase 2 will be used whether we are open for in-person instruction or not. This flexible schedule will allow for more consistent education.
- Sadly, the pattern of open, close, open, close might be part of the “new normal” for schools. If we have to contend with that, we’d also like to have more in-person time during the “open” days.
- Likewise, Phase 2 allows us to increase in-person instructional time even if we have to keep a defined cohort or single school at home for a short period. The result will be more engaged learning time district-wide.
- So far, the cases that have impacted our schools have originated outside of the school environment. School may be the best place for engagement with low risk of COVID transmission. Everyone must adhere to mask and social distancing rules, and regular cleaning takes place.
I’m on the receiving end of concerns and complaints from both poles of “keep all students home every day” to “open the school full time at full capacity.” I can tell you that no single answer makes me smile; nothing is the magic solution that is right for more than a moment, or right for every student. And I’m not alone. The decisions are made not by me in a silo, but by a network of advisers that includes public health professionals and our Restart Committee of staff, parents, Board of Education members, administrators and a student.
At this time, we feel that Ramsey can move into Phase 2 of our Hybrid Learning Plan starting Monday, Nov. 30. We collected feedback from students, staff, parents, and other stakeholders. Drawing from their experiences was a vital step towards building upon our success. Some general takeaways include:
- The desire for more in-person schooling.
- Afternoon synchronous classes are not as effective as we hoped.
- Juggling three instruction types (in-person, asynchronous, and synchronous) is difficult for teachers and students.
- Virtual Wednesdays are long and difficult for K-5.
- Asynchronous instruction is very challenging, especially for K-3.
- At-home work needs to be more independent, especially for K-3.
- Virtual specials are not very beneficial.
- A rolling schedule at elementary school would be hard to manage for some families.
Phase 2 will address many of these concerns; however, there are still no great choices in light of current trends. We realize that some people will welcome the changes, and others will face new challenges. Our goal has always been to offer a top-notch, quality educational experience while balancing everyone’s health and safety needs. Ten weeks into this school year of newness, we are ready to say that we can increase in-person time without a substantial impact on the number of days we might have to close a building. We can also say that feedback indicates the very high value our community puts on that in-person time.
It is important to note that we have spoken to our school physician and Hackensack University Medical Center’s Health Awareness Regional Program (HARP). They are comfortable with and support our proposed changes.
In a nutshell, here are the changes on the horizon:
- K-5 will move to a five-day-a-week AM/PM schedule.
- 6-12 will have more in-person time, a streamlined in-person schedule, and no all-virtual Wednesday (except for Professional Development opportunities).
These changes will increase the in-person time per week, as illustrated below:
| Current In-Person | New Model | |
| K-5 | 8 hours | 15 hours |
| 6-8 | 8.5 hours | Average of 12.5 hours |
| 9-12 | 9 hours | Average of 12.5 hours |
For more than that nutshell version, you can access the detailed presentation and the FAQs here. Some important details:
- Nov. 20 is the deadline to complete the survey to inform the district of your request to switch from All-Remote to Hybrid, or from Hybrid to All-Remote for Phase 2 AND/OR to inform us of your transportation if your child qualifies for busing.
- If you choose All-Remote, the next deadline for notifying the school about a request to switch to Hybrid option will be:
- January 6 – Ramsey High School
- January 22 – Smith Middle School and Elementary Schools
- Elementary students who choose the Hybrid option will have to wait until January 22 to switch to All-Remote.
- Students at Smith and RHS who choose the Hybrid option may switch to All-Remote at any time by contacting the building principal.
- Students are not allowed to move out of their blue and gold cohorts.
- We made three adjustments to the Blue-Gold rotation at the 6-12 grade levels to allow the Blue cohorts to have an additional 3 days of in-person instruction. The school buildings will share these rotational calendars. This will make up for the three days in the beginning of the year: Labor Day, Yom Kippur, and Columbus Day, where there was NO instruction for the Blue cohort. However, we cannot promise that we will be able to make up days when virtual learning is taking place in lieu of an in-person day. At the K-5 level, we have designated December 23rd, which is a minimum day, as a Blue-only day. Since we are moving to 5 days of in-person instruction per week, there are no additional Blue-only days.
Our goal is to implement this shift starting on Monday, November 30.
I would be remiss if I didn’t thank ALL the staff for their hard work, dedication, and flexibility. However, all the hard work and commitment will be for naught if we don’t take the pandemic more seriously. State health guidelines spell out many common scenarios and the reactions that would be necessary to contain the spread. (If you are not familiar with the 19-page “matrix,” I invite you to read it).
This is the ultimate test of collective responsibility. If our community truly wants in-person instruction, we all must adhere to the health and safety guidelines IN school and OUT. As the father of two young adults, I fully understand the desire to “have fun.” Who doesn’t? I am seriously running out of things to talk to my wife about, but I feel obligated to do my part. Wearing a mask, socially distancing yourself (even from your friends), staying home when sick, etc. reduces the risk of spreading the virus. Let’s show the rest of New Jersey that we can do this!
Sincerely,
Matthew J. Murphy, Ed. D.
Superintendent of Schools
