Toms River Schools will increase days of in-person instruction

As the amount of Covid-19 cases are slowly dropping and vaccines slowly increasing across the state, school districts are pivoting towards more in-person learning, or are beginning to plan such a move this year.

The Toms River Regional School District sent a letter to parents and staff on Thursday indicating they are making such a move themselves.

They are moving to four days a week of in-person learning beginning on March 1 for elementary school students and staff, March 15 for grades 6-12.

It's apart of the districts #TRSafeReturn plan.

"We embark on this new phase cautiously, but with great hopes that it represents another step toward an eventual full return," Toms River Regional Schools Interim Superintendent Thomas Gialanella said in a statement/letter to staff.

Gialenella adds that parents must select their child's preferred learning model by February 16, meaning in-person or at home virtual distance learning.

The school districts plan was discussed at the Toms River School Board Curriculum and Committee meeting this week where it was approved by nights end.

As they move towards four days of in-person instruction come March, the plan is to still got five-days at some point, when it is safe to do so.

Gialanella explains that the district remains hopeful a full week return is possible this school year but is expecting that to become more of a reality for the 2021-2022 academic year.

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