Newark schools will remain shuttered through April as virus continues to surge

Newark is pushing back its planned school reopening from this month to April, district officials announced Wednesday — a decision that means students will have spent more than a year learning remotely.

The delay, which Superintendent Roger León shared with families and staff members Wednesday evening, comes amid a continuing surge of coronavirus cases in Newark and pressure from the city teachers union to keep classrooms closed. It is the third time this school year that the district has postponed reopening school buildings since they shut down in March.

“In Newark, we are at a critical stage in the fight against Covid-19, and the health and safety of students and staff remain my top priority,” León said in the letter. “Based on what we know today, and in consultation with the Newark Health Department, I have weighed many factors and decided to continue remote instruction until after Spring Break.”

https://newark.chalkbeat.org/2021/1/6/22218026/newark-reopening-april