Glimmers of hope for ‘normal’ spring in Morris School District

COVID forecast from Columbia University and Pfizer, from Morris School District virtual board meeting, Jan. 25, 2021. Screenshot by Kevin Coughlin
0

 

Mackey Pendergrast is a numbers guy.

And one number is making him cautiously optimistic about something resembling a normal spring for the Morris School District.

The regional district has 19 active cases of COVID-19 right now. That’s the lowest count since mid-October, the superintendent told the school board on Monday, via Zoom.

Superintendent Mackey Pendergrast addresses Morris School District virtual board meeting, Jan. 25, 2021. Screenshot by Kevin Coughlin

As cases are rising across Morris County, they are diminishing here, he said, crediting aggressive quarantine measures and cooperation from families observing pandemic protocols.

The reduction is striking compared with November to mid-December, when the district reported more than 150 cases, he said.

Since September, Grades 6-12 have operated on a hybrid classroom/virtual schedule, with numerous disruptions. Lower grades started with in-person instruction, but at times have switched to virtual in response to COVID outbreaks.

Columbia University forecasts sharp declines by April and May, if restrictions continue and vaccinations keep rolling. Pendergrast said he’s keeping his fingers crossed that New Jersey will start vaccinating teachers by late February.

Board President Melissa Spiotta at Morris School District virtual board meeting, Jan. 25, 2021. Screenshot by Kevin Coughlin

“You could vaccinate all the elementary school teachers in the state in about a week,” he said. “There are 30,000 of them.”

If Johnson & Johnson gets federal approvals for its vaccine–which, unlike Pfizer and Moderna versions, requires only one shot per person, instead of two–that’s another 100 million doses, the superintendent said.

There are wildcards. Vaccine supplies and distribution remain problematic. And new strains of the coronavirus–particularly the South African variant–may outfox this crop of vaccines.

Yet hope springs eternal.

“Our goal all along was to bend but not break,” Pendergrast said.

‘PRECARIOUS BALANCING ACT’

Some nods to normalcy already are occurring. The Morristown High School hockey team has hit the ice. The school band, drill team and cheerleading squads are functioning again.

The New York Jets are underwriting the launch of a girls flag football team at the high school this spring. Sports are anticipated to resume at the Frelinghuysen Middle School at that time, too.

Meanwhile, the board plans to invite the public to observe members’ upcoming virtual training sessions on microaggressions; ethics; and harassment, intimidation and bullying, said board President Melissa Spiotta.

“We have skin in the game,” as parents and grandparents of children attending the district’s 10 schools, Spiotta said of her board colleagues. “We’re all super-passionate about this.”

Two parents called with kudos for teachers and school nurses, sentiments Pendergrast echoed. “The sheer effort and passion they’ve show has been remarkable, and a real inspiration for us all,” he said.

Board member Alan Smith at Morris School District virtual board meeting, Jan. 25, 2021. Screenshot by Kevin Coughlin

The superintendent declined another parent’s request to amend the district’s COVID-19 dashboard to specify how many cases are staffers.

Publicizing those details might cause the district to run afoul of confidentiality laws, by enabling the public to deduce identities, Pendergrast said.

Some teachers are being forced to choose between work and their parental responsibilities, when outbreaks close classrooms in their hometowns, said board member Alan Smith, who chairs the human relations committee.

“This is a precarious balancing act for a number of our faculty members,” said Smith, alluding to requests for leaves of absence and early retirements.

Teachers of color are disproportionately faced with such hard choices, he asserted. He did not present details

The district employs about 1,000 people, serving 5,700 students from Morristown, Morris Township and (for high school) Morris Plains.

If you’ve read this far… you clearly value your local news. Now we need your help to keep producing the local coverage you depend on! More people are reading Morristown Green than ever. But costs keep rising. Reporting the news takes time, money and hard work. We do it because we, like you, believe an informed citizenry is vital to a healthy community.

So please, CONTRIBUTE to MG or become a monthly SUBSCRIBER. ADVERTISE on Morristown Green. LIKE us on Facebook, FOLLOW us on Twitter, and SIGN UP for our newsletter.

LEAVE A REPLY