TRENTON, NJ – Governor Phil Murphy initially said he will make decisions on reopening New Jersey’s public and private schools by May 15th, but on Sunday, he indicated he will “address the issue” at Monday’s noon COVID-19 press conference. Since the COVID-19 shutdown, schools have been on remote learning program, which also runs through May 15th at this time. As with many other aspects of Murphy’s decisions on the COVID-19 pandemic, the Governor has indicated he will make many decisions in concert with New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Cuomo announced on Friday that his state would keep public schools closed through the end of the school year. “We will give you that guidance on Monday,” Murphy said. “My hope is on Monday as to what we’re going to do about schools.”
New Jersey is now part of a coalition of seven “blue states” who have decided to move forward in the COVID-19 pandemic together, including decision making and medical purchasing agreements.
Guided by the NJ School Board Association, New Jersey PTA, New Jersey Education Association and other educational powerbrokers in New Jersey, those groups also formed a coalition to ask Murphy not to reopen schools.
“Leadership for Educational Excellence (LEE), a coalition of the state’s major education organizations dedicated to the education and welfare of New Jersey students, urges you to keep Executive Order 107 in effect, as it applies to school closings, through the month of June—that is, for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year,” the group said.
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