ABC Eyewitness News

NJ Education Leaders Debate the Reopening of Schools

By Toni Yates | Wednesday, July 22, 2020 5:08PM

NEWARK, New Jersey (WABC) — New Jersey state leaders held a meeting Wednesday over the plan to reopen schools and how to protect students from the coronavirus pandemic.

The New Jersey Assembly Education Committee, along with experts, are digging into an issue they’ve never had to consider executing: reopening schools in the fall, during a year when a pandemic has killed more than 144,000 people in the U.S. and infected millions more.

“We’re going to need to think about not opening schools as soon as the day after Labor Day weekend,” Mila Jasey of the NJ Assembly Education Committee said.

This is new and critical territory, as evidenced by the concern from the School Nurses Association.

“There will be mass absenteeism of both staff and students as close contacts for those who have tested positive will also have to quarantine for 14 days,” school nurse Robi Cogan said.

To ensure school nurses across New Jersey are best equipped for the health and wellness needs of students, the education committee approved legislation that would create the position of State School Nurse Consultant within the Department of Education.

The consultant would work in collaboration with the Department of Health and with other state agencies and stakeholders.

They would also be responsible to serve as a liaison and resource expert on school nursing and to help facilitate the development of school health policies.

Some school districts across the country have already decided to keep remote learning in place, while others consider alternative models like alternating weeks where some kids go to school and others learn from home.

Summer school is in session at the First Avenue School in Newark, where 50 kids actually come in, with safety measures in place.

“We have stations for screening questions that parents and students get to ask, temperatures checks as well as shoe and hand sanitizing stations,” principal Andre Barquin said.

Fiona Promo sends her daughters Chelsea and Gabrielle, but she’s unsure about the idea of them returning in the fall.

New Jersey high school opens doors every Friday night to keep students off streets


NEWARK, New Jersey (WABC) — A school full of kids on a Friday night is all part of one man’s mission to keep students at a Newark high school off the streets and out of trouble.

Hundreds of kids packed the halls of West Side High School on Friday night because it’s a space free of fear.

It’s all part of the Lights On program which is now in its fourth year and is open to everyone.

Many would think it’s the last place students would want to be, but they are there to avoid what lurks outside of the school:

“Anything that keeps me off the streets I’ll do,” one student said. “Selling drugs and stuff, I’m not into that.”

“I just realized that if I come here I’ll see friendly faces,” another student said.

“Security,” said another student.

Within the walls of the school, every Friday night until 11 p.m., kids can shoot pool, play video games, hit the hardwood, practice cheers or even lay down tracks in a recording studio.

Within in the walls, they can simply laugh.

Nadia Camacho graduated in 2008.

“If it was around back then, I think that we wouldn’t have lost so many of my classmates,” Camacho said. “If we had a class reunion right now a lot of my classmates wouldn’t be here due to gun violence.”

“I haven’t lost any more kids to gun violence since the start of the school year,” Principal Akbar Cook said.

Cook says the results can’t be ignored.

His name may sound familiar because last summer he installed a free laundry room inside the school after his students were bullied because of dirty clothes which resulted in chronic absenteeism.

Cook says there been a 10 percent increase in daily attendance since he opened the laundry room.

“I was finding out just from being a principal that the kids don’t eat during the weekends,” Cook said.

The school also serves hot meals to the kids on Friday nights.

During the summer, the program is held three nights a week. It’s all made possible by donations from the community and alumni.

It all goes to show what a school can become when the community cares about kids who just want a chance.

“It’s fun, safe too. It’s better than being out on the streets,” one student said.

“On the street it’s dangerous, people get killed, you could be killed walking home, gunshots everywhere,” one student said.

Superintendent of Newark Public Schools Making History


Toni Yates interviews Roger Leon, the first Hispanic superintendent of Newark Public Schools. As seen on ABC Channel 7.

[NEWARK, New Jersey (WABC)] Roger Leon is the first Hispanic superintendent of Newark Public Schools.

Leon knows plenty about Newark Public Schools – he was a student, a teacher and now he’s the boss.

He is also the first superintendent in the driver’s seat after the state released its 20-plus year control over the district.

Newark, the largest school district in New Jersey, has been one of the state’s most challenged with low test scores and absenteeism. Those are two of the main issues Leon has taken on to turn around.

Camden Street Students Tour ABC Studios

Camden Street Students Tour ABC Studios
Camden Street ABC Studio Tour 2Students from Camden Street School recently spent the morning at Good Morning America at ABC Studios in New York City. Thanks in part to Art Teacher Serifatu Alaka Hughes, who has been teaching with NPS for 16 years. Art and Eden arranged for our students to go on a tour of ABC studios, which included asking questions while exploring careers in broadcasting.