By MADDY VITALE
With just two weeks until school, Ocean City Interim Schools Superintendent Dr. Tom Baruffi told the community that the goal is to keep students in school, to follow all mandates set forth by the governor and to have an open line of communication with families about the pandemic.
“This is now doable. We just have to agree to support each other and make it happen,” Baruffi told a crowd of parents, teachers and local officials during a community forum Tuesday at the high school.
The two-hour forum, which had about 100 attendees, was designed to give the community a place to openly discuss concerns nearing the start of the new school year. The first day of school is Sept. 7.
The mask mandate, mask breaks, three to six feet for social distancing, the lunch period, gym classes and a possibility of classes taught outside were some of the topics.
“Why are we here?” Baruffi asked at the beginning of the program.
“The answer as to why we are here is obvious,” he continued. “This thing is not going away. This virus is still with us and we now have another variant.”
“Are we going to have the same issues as last year?” he said.
“I don’t think we will deal with the same issues as last year,” he pointed out. “Things are different than last year and we will talk about that as we continue to go forward.”
The main difference between how the schools operated last year during the COVID-19 pandemic and how they will for the upcoming year is that there is in-class instruction all week, without a virtual option.
However, if a student needs to be in remote instruction for a time, due to health reasons, then virtual learning will be provided.
The majority of questions from the public focused on mask wearing.
One parent asked who would be policing the masks and whether the schools will provide masks.
Baruffi explained that there would be masks available. During the discussion, Jill Berenato, the school district’s nurse, also answered questions pertaining to the availability of masks and other issues.
“We will need to take time to show our students how to wear a mask. The other challenge is putting on and off masks,” Baruffi said of some issues after children have had a break from masks much of the summer.
The district’s COVID-19 committee, which is made up of health professionals, school officials and members of the community, met last week and discussed many of these issues, Baruffi noted.
A new addition to this year will be staggered mask breaks so that students will get a break from mask-wearing for a short time.
The superintendent also noted that masks will be allowed to be removed during gym class during “aerobic activity.”
He stressed that these are all part of what Gov. Phil Murphy says is allowed at this time in New Jersey schools. Things may change in the future. He explained that it is a fluid situation.
“This is a mandate. Individuals who don’t follow the mandates are subject to fines,” Baruffi said.
Some members of the audience asked if the district could stagger meal breaks.
There are 1,300 students in the high school and roughly 500 in the primary and intermediate schools.
“From a scheduling standpoint, we will all eat at one time. We are looking at every single space available,” Baruffi said, adding that there will be room to spread out and eat comfortably.
One person mentioned that there was discussion last year about outside classes to limit the mask use.
“Yes, we are looking at that,” Baruffi responded. “One of the conversations we had was taking advantage of the outside. And I agree.”
However, Baruffi responded that the mask-wearing is a mandate and that people could voice their concerns but that it is a law.
Board of Education member Cecelia Gallelli-Keyes spoke from the audience.
“We are your voice. We will listen to you, as a collective group,” she noted. “The mandates have come down, and we have to abide by them.”
And the fact remains that school will be in person for five days a week. That is a major accomplishment over last year, officials agreed.
“I believe we can start the school year and have these kids in school every day, in person, and have an opportunity for the kids to not have masks on for a time in the school day,” Baruffi said. “Everything we do as an administrative staff has that goal in mind. We are asking you to support that.”
For more information visit the district’s website at oceancityschools.org.
