CCCEA's Response to School Reopening Plans
August 8, 2020
Governor Phil Murphy
Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver
Kevin Dehmer, Interim Commissioner NJ Dept. of Education
Senator M. Teresa Ruiz, Chair NJ Senate Education Committee
Senator Robert Menendez
Senator Cory Booker
Senator Steven Sweeney
Congressman Donald Norcoss
4th, 5th, 6th, 8th Legislative Districts
Dr. Lovelle Pugh-Bassett, Camden County Interim Executive County Superintendent
The Camden County Council of Education Associations represents over 9000 teachers, certified staff and educational support professional members. We would like to thank you for your hard work and diligence keeping New Jersey safe during this pandemic. New Jersey has done a tremendous job slowing the curve of COVID-19 through the sacrifice of many daily routines we once took for granted. In-person instruction is one of those routines taken for granted.
One of the basic tenets of education is that students must be made to feel safe in their environment before learning can happen. In March, under the governor’s direction, all school buildings were closed, but teachers across the state continued to educate children remotely. Based on this tenet, it is with extreme urgency that we write this letter to implore the decision be made that in-person instruction should be postponed until proper safety procedures can be established to guarantee the safety of everyone. With 183,000 documented cases in New Jersey and over 15,000 deaths, what price are we willing to pay for attempting a return to in-person instruction before districts are ready to ensure that safety is the top priority? There is nothing as school employees we would like more than a return to in-class instruction, but we cannot, in good faith, accept this at the expense of the safety of our students, staff, and their families.
2020 VIRTUAL NEA/RA AT THE CCCEA OFFICE
Thank You to our Members for your generous donations to the Hospital Staff at Cooper University Hospital (193 meals provided by Rent-A-Chef) and the Food Bank of South Jersey!
Gov. Phil Murphy today fulfilled a campaign promise made to NJEA members in 2016, as he signed NJEA’s long-sought Ch. 78 relief plan into law. Flanked by NJEA’s officers and other leaders, as well as Senate President Steve Sweeney, Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin and other legislators, Gov. Murphy signed S-2273/A-20, which will lower the cost of health insurance for school employees while also lowering costs for school districts.
NJEA News
- Meet New Jersey’s 2020-21 County Teachers of the Year September 15, 2020
- Blistan named to Education Power 50 September 15, 2020
- Murphy signs subcontracting bill September 12, 2020
- NJEA testimony on FY21 revised budget September 11, 2020
We have tentatively confirmed the date of Thursday, May 27, 2021 with The Palace, Blackwood, NJ for the 2020-2021 CCCEA Annual Retirement Dinner. Any member who has or will retire during the 2019-2020 school year is eligible to attend the 2020-2021 event, in addition to the members retiring during the 2020-2021 school year.
We sincerely apologize to our retirees as we know you were looking forward to celebrating with your families, friends, and colleagues.
For a limited time, our friends at California Casualty are offering NJEA members a free $25 gift card when you complete a new auto quote. You can also skip payments in two summer months! http://www.readyforquote.com/christina