Thursday, November 1, 2012

NJEA Cancels Convention; Kean Says Restore Days

New Jersey Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean Jr. is urging education officials to operate public schools where feasible on Nov. 8 and 9 — dates now available for teaching and learning as the New Jersey Education Association today canceled its annual teachers’ convention in Atlantic City.

“The NJEA made the right decision today to cancel its annual convention in Atlantic City, where residents and businesses are barely beginning to heal from Hurricane Sandy’s wrath,” said Kean, R-21. “Sandy rehabilitation will be an arduous process for too many New Jersey communities, as evidenced, in part, by this week’s public school closures around the state.”

“With lingering damages possibly closing some schools early next week, it makes sense to give local districts the option of restoring these two canceled convention days as class days, in communities where transporting and schooling children can be done safely,” Kean added.

“Restoring these two class days can be a step toward recovery,” Kean concluded. “It can spark a sense of normalcy for families who have had their children home without power all week, and for students who otherwise could potentially attend class just two days in a 17-day span. It would be welcomed by many school districts now struggling to schedule their 180-day statutory obligation before July, without any more snow days.”

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