Tag Archives: Digital Divide

Pandemic Amplifies Challenges in North Brunswick Twp.

June 5, 2020UncategorizedCares Act, CDC, charter school funding, charter schools, chief education officers, child care, community outreach, coronavirus, COVID-19, daily broadcast, Digital Divide, Dr. Brian Zychowski, Dr. Richard Bozza, education leaders, education network, governor's guidance, governor's leadership, hand sanitizer, impossible to open schools, in seat learning, less schedules, less space, local community needs, Mayor Francis M. Womack III, mental health, New Jersey, NJASA, North Brunswick Twp. Schools, nurses, PPE, re-open schools, recognition programs, remote learning, Rutgers, RWJ Barnabas Healthcare, safely educate children, social distancing, summer camps, superintendents, T-Mobile hotspot, vaccineNJASA

COVID-19 didn’t change what North Brunswick Twp. Schools were doing, but it called for new leadership skillsets to inspire creative solutions to address the district’s pandemic challenges. Chief Education Officer Dr. Brian Zychowski connected with T-Mobile and was awarded a grant for 4,000+ mobile hotspots ensuring internet access to its diversified student population. This effort closed the digital divide and provides a fair and equitable education to all its students.

The district cooks and distributes 8,000 daily breakfasts and lunches, 6 days a week. Their nurses are working on a team with Rutgers University Behavioral Health to reach out to students and staff experiencing anxiety and depression caused by the pandemic, as well as other emotional and mental health concerns.

Dr. Zychowski also partners with the mayor on daily broadcasts, not only sharing information but honoring students and staff.

In this podcast, Executive Director Dr. Richard Bozza talks with Dr. Zychowski about re-allocating their 2020-2021 budgets to satisfy the PPE and disinfecting expenses, funding North Brunswick Twp.’s charter schools, and the impossible task of reopening schools under the current social distancing requirements. Visit njasa.net to join us in exploring best practices together.

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Team of Technical Wizards Helps NJ Public School District Thrive

May 22, 2020Uncategorizedchief education officers, coronavirus, COVID-19, Digital Divide, Dr. Michael Salvatore, Dr. Richard Bozza, Facebook Live, Future Ready Schools, geofence, high school graduations, Long Branch School District, mental health, Monmouth Medical Center, National Alliance for Excellent Education, New Jersey, new normal, NJASA, schools’ September outlook, social emotional health, state aid, state budget reimbursement, superintendents, virtual graduationsNJASA

Long Branch Public Schools were “Future Ready” long before the pandemic, thanks to a massive technology reorganization spearheaded by Chief Education Officer Dr. Michael Salvatore. With the Future Ready Schools initiative, the district successfully interrupted the digital divide, providing equal access to high quality content which set the stage for distance learning during COVID-19. Salvatore credits his team of technical wizards who pivot constantly to ensure access continues. In addition to academics, the district is meeting social-emotional needs with mental health outreach, and creative ways for students to celebrate milestones from prom to graduation. In this podcast, NJASA Executive Director Dr. Richard Bozza talks with Dr. Salvatore, NJASA’s 2019 Superintendent of the Year, about key actions that helped his district during these challenging times. Visit njasa.net to join us in exploring best practices together.

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As School Buildings Remain Closed, Learning Continues in New Jersey

May 8, 2020UncategorizedAbdulSaleem Hasan, Assistant Commissioner of Field Services, bilingual communications, Cares Act, chief education officers, Chromebooks, coronavirus, County Superintendents, COVID-19, Department of Education, Digital Divide, distance learning, Dr. Richard Bozza, Education, Education Partnerships, educational collaboration, Governor Murphy, homeschooling, New Jersey, New Jersey Department of Education, new normal, NJASA, NJDOE, public schools, QSAC. Education of the Future, school leaders, schools, special education, Summer School, superintendents, Technology, technology in educationNJASA

After Governor Phil Murphy closed school buildings for the year, NJASA got a high-level look at how New Jersey’s districts are faring from AbdulSaleem Hasan, Assistant Commissioner of Field Services for the New Jersey Department of Education. Meeting school budgets, overcoming the digital divide and getting the resources for special education at home are just some of the challenges facing districts in the coming weeks. In this podcast, NJASA Executive Director Dr. Richard Bozza talks with Hasan about the challenges and successes, including examples other districts can follow. Visit njasa.net to join us in exploring best practices together.

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