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Superintendent recommends calendar changes, says state law limits virtual instruction; offers staff wellness screenings and student internship updates
Summary
Superintendent James Raymond proposed making up recent missed school days with a half day before Easter, outlined a revised graduation schedule to avoid Juneteenth conflicts, warned that New Jersey currently prohibits routine virtual instruction except during public-health emergencies, and described AtlantiCare staff screenings and expanded internship opportunities.
Superintendent James Raymond presented several operational recommendations and updates to the board, including a proposed calendar change to make up a missed Oak Crest day with a half day on the Friday before Easter and suggested adjustments to graduation scheduling because Juneteenth falls on a Friday under the current calendar.
"As per the school calendar, we are not scheduled to be in session on Juneteenth," Raymond said as he recommended running two graduations on Wednesday and one on Thursday to minimize family conflicts and to preserve a rain date. He asked board members to raise concerns before he finalizes any recommendation to the community.
On virtual instruction, Raymond warned board members that current New Jersey law prohibits providing virtual instruction days except during a declared public-health emergency. "As of right now, unfortunately, it is illegal in the state of New Jersey for us to provide virtual instruction days," he said, adding that a bill in Trenton would allow limited optional virtual days (maximum three) with notification to the county superintendent if adopted.
Raymond also outlined student and staff wellness and career-prep initiatives: AtlantiCare will pilot free staff health screenings (blood pressure, prediabetes, pulse-ox) during half days at each building in March, and the district is exploring whether similar offerings for students in August are feasible. Raymond said internship outreach has yielded interest: 45 students attended internship introductions with Atlantic City Electric; about two dozen are completing applications for paid summer internships that pay $17 an hour.
Board members asked whether AtlantiCare could provide low-cost student sports physicals in August; Raymond said he will research grant opportunities and consult the solicitor because offering district-paid physicals at scale could trigger liability or significant expense. Solicitor/Staff member Will clarified that regulations presume a student's medical home performs required physicals and that the temporary pandemic-era allowance for virtual instruction had sunset when the public-health emergency ended.
What happens next: Raymond will seek board feedback, verify plans with the association and solicitor, and, if there are no objections, finalize communications to the community about calendar changes and wellness pilots.
