Good morning/Afternoon Residents, local politicians and most importantly residents of Elizabeth New Jersey. Primarily, we would like to give our condolences to any lives that were lost due to Hurricane Ida. Overall applaud your strength through such a tough time. You may ask where the relevance lie between Ida and Mental health and educational rights. As a result of Ida two schools in Elizabeth New Jersey were affected. Schools 26 and 27. Students all around the world have been affected mentally and emotionally by virtual learning and schools 26 and 27 continue to feel the raft. Don't take it from me but from Yellow Brick Road an early childhood development center that expresses the importance of in person learning. Stating how it helps with essential skills needed for a child's success. These skills being social skills, communication skills, collaboration skills, open-mindedness and over all friendships. A study conducted in September of 2021 by the UNICEF showed how 46% of students reported to be less motivated, 43% pessimistic and over 73% were affected mentally and emotionally. The board of ed has been very dismissive. Students nor parents have received any mental or emotional support from guidance or social workers? So, Elizabeth Public schools where do your priorities lie. A single mother of a student who attends school 26 as a first grader stated how she had a tough time getting her child to online school in time being how she has 1 other child whose school went unaffected. This strong and courageous mother must walk to take her child to school and come back to log her first grader in. The teacher of this child was made aware of the situation and even then, the teacher expressed to the child how she could not be late every day. Keep in mind students must log in at 7:30. Virtual learning goes on from 7:30 to 3:00. When students in person learning must report to school soon after, so how are parents expected to complete such a task. Parents are undergoing the same struggle that they were having during the pandemic. Only difference is that this time there is no unemployment money, stimulus checks or any federal government financial assistance for food or childcare. So, when these helps bounce back insufficient funds what are parents left with. This situation has been going in since September, and no return date. So, parents are left fending for their selves. Elizabeth board of ed, where are you?

We have no official return day. 

Help get our children back in school Elizabeth Residence!