Think it’s tough being a parent in a pandemic? Imagine trying to satisfy thousands of them.
Before COVID-19 turned the world upside down, Mackey Pendergrast was named New Jersey’s Superintendent of the Year. He had no idea how he was about to be tested.
In this episode of The Morristown Green Podcast, we ask the Morris School District super how he makes controversial decisions about school closures, quarantines and hybrid schedules.
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Pendergrast’s challenges have included hundreds of COVID-19 cases, and supplying technology for many struggling families without internet access or computers for virtual classes.
Trenton and Washington haven’t offered much help through the health crisis.
“We just decided early on, we have to figure this out on our own…we couldn’t really depend on the state or the federal government for too much guidance,” Pendergrast says.
Where does the former history teacher turn for inspiration? What has he learned about learning…leadership…and himself over the last grueling year?
And when will education return to “normal” for 5,700 students from Morristown, Morris Township and Morris Plains?
Have a listen.
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Stuck in nj you have some nerve making a comment that teachers are despicable human beings! You’re probably a parent that doesn’t work, goes to the spa or club, but you are just mad that your kid is learning virtual and you have to interrupt your schedule. You just want the kids to go back to school so the teachers can be a babysitter.
SHAME ON YOU!
Stuck in NJ makes it obvious that they hate their children. Can’t imagine having such disregard for my offspring that I have to take it out on teachers who are concerned with their own health and families. Instead of continuing to be ‘Stuck in NJ’, how about a move to Florida? Heard it’s nice this time of year.
The teachers unions are public enemy #1. No pays raises or new contracts until 100% in person with no masks.
Dangle a pay raise in front of these despicable human beings and watch how fast they get back into the classroom full time. Teachers are public enemy #1 in my book until they decide to work full time again.
FIRE ALL TEACHERS WHO WONT RETURN TO WORK!!!!
Incredible job by our superintendent and his team and teachers – as well as parents and our amazing students. Our schools were open more than most. It was a very difficult year to say the least and we are almost through it. Our district focused on values and science and health and compassion to make decisions – I’m not sure what else they could have done. Such times makes it impossible to make “perfect decisions” and choices. So you depend on your values to see you through. Thank you.
Kevin does a great job asking questions and Mackey does a great job avoiding them as usual. He claims he is not a epidemiologist yet he discusses how he makes decisions based on how he feels people are exposed. He has an arbitrary goal that the region needs to be yellow for three weeks before older kids can go back. He ALWAYS quarantines the maximum people possible from any possible exposure. The day can’t be extended because there is not enough staff? They have been “exposed” for 4 hours but can’t be for 6? Didn’t school always used to be full day without these issues? He continues to harp on cumulative cases throughout the year as a scare tactic (since that’s the biggest number) as well as the districts that did not open (yet no mention of those neighboring districts that gave benchmarks and progressed, many now to full day throughout the year.) He continues to deny learning loss. He has never witnessed the disaster of a Google meet. He has no plan. Outside of school people are going to restaurants and socializing, yet he is determined to keep school a prison. Who and where are the parents he claims are supporting him? Where are the survey results? Where is he getting his data that everyone loves his in/out/virtual nonsense? He mentions masks in September when there isn’t even guidance on this yet. The BOE should take a vote of no confidence immediately!
What a joke — MSD has been absolutely horrendous in their handling of the pandemic in comparison to other area districts. No surprise kids are fleeing to other schools on a daily basis.
I don’t think any parents were satisfied. We were lied to all year. There was never an answer or reason why we couldn’t have full day school.