To the Editor:

I am deeply disappointed in the Princeton Public School Board’s reopening plan for elementary schools. Limiting our youngest students to two half-days of in-person instruction a week will only serve to exacerbate the learning loss our children suffered during the chaos of this spring, as well as contribute to more behavioral health issues due to lack of socialization with peers.

The data on this coming out of Wuhan is sobering — nearly one in five children in grades 2-6 there report depression and/or anxiety following their shutdown and closure of school. I would think this data would have been a call to action for the PPS Board to do more, especially given Princeton’s relatively low community transmission rate and clear strides in contact tracing. Sadly, it was not.

I applaud the Princeton YMCA and other community agencies for formulating child care options for times students are not in school. As a full time working parent, I will avail myself of whatever options exist. However, I fail to see how this ensures a quality, equitable education for all Princeton students, nor do I understand how this is any more “safe” than having all kids in the controlled environment of school full-time with on-site before and after school care.

In my view, the PPS plan to reopen schools places our most vulnerable students at risk of further learning loss and behavioral health issues and needs to be re-thought to ensure a quality academic and social-emotional learning experience for all Princeton students. The current plan shows an appalling lack of creativity, care, and concern for the long-term welfare of our children.

Margaret Johnson
Burr Drive