>>> NJ PBS, THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, WITH RIHANNA PELOSI.

>>> GOOD EVENING, THANKS FOR JOINING HIM US ON THIS MONDAY, LABOR DAY.

TOUGH SUMMER FOR TRAVELERS.

A SEASON DEFINED BY MASS AIRLINE CANCELLATIONS AND DELAYS.

RECORD HIGH GAS PRICES ARE THERE AS WELL.

THE DEMAND FOR TRAVEL BACK AT THREE PANDEMIC LEVELS.

AAA SAYS ABOUT ONE THIRD OF AMERICANS PLAN TO TRAVEL FOR THE LABOR DAY WEEKEND.

THE AGENCY ESTIMATES THAT TENS OF MILLIONS DID SO BY HITTING THE ROADS.

NUMBERS THAT WILL RIVAL MEMORIAL DAY IN JULY 4th WEEKENDS.

DESPITE THE SURGEONS DEMAND TO GET OUT AND ABOUT, THIS WEEKEND TRAVEL TRIED TO BE FAR SMOOTHER THAN THE EARLY HOLIDAYS.

MUCH TO THE SURPRISE AND PLEASURE OF THOSE TAKING TRIPS.

EXPERTS SAY IS THE RESULT OF AIRLINE CARRIERS AND FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION LEADERS.

THEY ARE TAKING STOCK IN LESSONS LEARNED DURING THE HAVOC AT THE HEIGHT OF THE SUMMER.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT IS AT NEWARK AIRPORT TODAY.

TRYING TO SEE HOW PASSENGERS WERE FARING.

>> MY FLIGHT WAS AMAZING.

>> THAT SEEMED TO ME TO BE NORMAL.

>> Reporter: THE NUMBER OF THOSE TRAVELING THIS WEEKEND IS ALMOST BACK TO PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS, ACCORDING TO THE TSA.

>> TORONTO IS VERY LIVE.

IT LOOKS GOOD SO FAR.

IT'S ON TIME.

NO TRAFFIC GETTING HERE.

>> WITH KIDS, YOU LEAVE LECTURE TIME FOR TRAVEL.

DID YOU LEAVE MORE BECAUSE THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND?

>> IT'S RIGHT HERE AT THAT TIME.

IN HINDSIGHT, IT'S RIGHT THERE.

A FAR CRY, IT'S RIGHT HERE.

>> Reporter: WE HAVE PLENTY OF CANCELLATIONS OVER THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

IT'S ALL AFTER JULY 4th.

>> THEY ARE EXTENDING THEMSELVES.

THEY ARE REDUCING FLIGHTS.

>> Reporter: IT MIGHT FEEL LIKE SMOOTH SAILING.

IT'S ALL SET UP.

IT'S ON THURSDAY.

IT'S ALL PART FROM THE U.S.

IT'S A DIFFERENT AIRLINE.

>> THEY WERE SUCCESSFUL IN RECRUITING MORE PILOTS.

WE HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING TO HIDE IT.

THIS IS THE DATA THAT WE SEE.

THEY HAVE A VIDEO FOR AIRLINE FLIGHTS.

>> Reporter: MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS TO EARLY SUMMER DELAYS.

IT COULD BE THE REASON WHY THIS JERSEY TRAVELER MADE IT HOME ON TIME.

HE LANDED IN THE WRONG PLACE.

>> WHEN WE LANDED, THEY SAID WE NEEDED TO BE PULLED INTO THE TROLLEY.

THEY PULLED US TO A DIFFERENT TERMINAL.

WE ARE AT A DIFFERENT BAGGAGE CLAIM.

NOT REALLY SURE WAS GOING ON.

WAITING FOR THE BAGS.

>> Reporter: STAFFING SHORTAGES THIS SUMMER, HAVE TRAVELERS LIKE RESIDENT JODY GARCIA, PREPARED FOR THE WORST THIS WEEKEND.

>> TRAVELING OUT OF ATLANTA, GIVE YOURSELF A COUPLE OF HOURS.

MAYBE THREE, JUST TO BE ON THE SAFE TSA SIDE.

SOMETIMES YOU GET TO THE AIRPORT.

IT WAS BUMPER-TO-BUMPER JUST TO GET TO THE GATE.

>> IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE SEEING TODAY?

>> NOT HERE.

WE GOT DROPPED OFF.

WE ARE GOING TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE FIGHT IN A LITTLE WHILE.

HOPEFULLY IT'S STILL THERE.

>> Reporter: RAMIREZ, ON THE FLIGHT THAT WAS ON TIME.

SHE WAS NOT.

>> WE ARRIVED LATE.

WE ARE RUNNING LATE RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVEN'T STARTED BOARDING.

WE ARE HOPING THAT YOU ALL HAVE A SMOOTH TSA TRANSITION, DIFFERENT FROM ATLANTA.

SOMETIMES COMING OUT, WE HAD TO WAIT 30 MINUTES TO GET THROUGH TSA.

>> Reporter: MORAL OF THE STORY, NEVER ASSUME THE AIRLINES ARE THE ONES RUNNING BEHIND.

WE HAVE MORE ADVICE FOR ANY TRAVELERS PLANNING FUTURE TRIPS.

AIRLINES WILL CONTINUE TO SCALE BACK THE NUMBER OF FLIGHTS THEY ARE OFFERING.

>> IF YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT A TRIP, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO START TAKING FLIGHTS NOW.

DON'T TRY TO GAIN THE SYSTEM.

THEY MEET YOUR NEEDS.

BOOK THEM.

MOST AIRLINES WITH MOST FARES, IF YOU FIND A LOWER FAIR, YOU CAN CANCEL YOUR ORIGINAL RESERVATION, GET THAT FARE BACK AS A CREDIT, REBOOK AT THE LOWER FAIR, AND YOU HAVE THE ADDITIONAL CREDIT TO USE FOR ANOTHER TRIP.

>> Reporter: BE PREPARED TO BE FLEXIBLE ON THE TRAVEL DATES.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I'M JOANNA .

>>> IS NOT LABOR DAY WITHOUT THE OFFICIAL SOUTH PLAINFIELD PARADE.

ONE OF NEW JERSEY'S OLDEST AND BEST ATTENDED LABOR DAY TRADITIONS.

THOUSANDS LINED THE STREETS THIS YEAR TO WATCH THE PROCESSION OF VETERANS GROUPS AND FIRST RESPONDERS.

BOY SCOUTS AND HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS TEAMS HAVE A PROCESSION OF CLASSIC CARS AND MARCHING BANDS.

THIS YEAR'S THEME WAS PARADE AROUND THE WORLD.

FLOATS HONOR THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF DIFFERENT CULTURES WORLDWIDE.

IT'S ALSO THE SPOT FOR LOCAL STATE AND FEDERAL LAWMAKERS TO HANDOUT THE PUBLIC SOME NECESSITIES.

CONGRESSMAN FRANK DES MOINES, HAD FIREWORKS AS WELL.

THE HISTORY OF LABOR DAY ISN'T ABOUT BARBECUES AND PARADES, THE EVENT DATES BACK TO THE 1800S, WHEN NEW JERSEY'S OWN PRESIDENT GROVER CLEVELAND, DECLARED A NATIONAL HOLIDAY.

HONORING THE WORK OF LABOR ACTIVISTS WHO FOUGHT FOR A FEDERAL HOLIDAY TO RECOGNIZE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF AMERICAN WORKERS.

MORE THAN ONE CENTURY LATER, THE U.S. IS AGAIN IN THE MIDST OF A LABOR MOVEMENT.

THIS TIME THOUGH, WORKERS ARE FINDING IT EASIER TO UNIONIZE.

THEY ARE STILL FIGHTING FOR A SEAT AT THE BARGAINING TABLE.

TED GOLDBERG REPORTS.

>> Reporter: THEY VOTED TO UNIONIZE FOUR MONTHS AGO.

THEY STILL HAVEN'T BEGUN TO NEGOTIATE A LABOR CONTRACT WITH CORPORATE.

>> WE HAVE BEEN ASKING NUMEROUS TIMES TO START IN THIS COMPANY.

EVERY SINGLE TIME, IT HAS BEEN IGNORED.

AND THEY ARE NOT COMING TO THE BARGAINING TABLE.

WE WANT ALL OF THE ELECTIONS, DESPITE THE UNION INVESTING.

IT'S NOT LEGAL FOR THEM TO NOT BARGAIN WITH US.

IT'S ALL HERE IN GOOD FAITH.

>> Reporter: THIS WAS NEW JERSEY'S FIRST STARBUCKS TO UNIONIZE.

THEY VOTED TO UNIONIZE TWO WEEKS AGO.

STARBUCKS IS STARTING TO RETALIATE.

IT >> VERY OVERT, HOW INFLEXIBLE THEY WERE TRYING TO BE AT THE END OF THE SUMMER.

A LOT OF THE EMPLOYEES WERE REJECTED.

THEIR SCHEDULES ARE THEREFORE SCHOOL.

>> Reporter: THE STORE WAS UNDERSTAFFED, EVEN BEFORE ITS VOTE TO UNIONIZE.

HE SAYS THAT CORBETT HAS ALLOWED THE PROBLEM TO GET WORSE.

>> EITHER THAT OR THEY ARE TRYING TO REALLY TIGHTEN AROUND THE MOUND OF WORK THAT IS PILING.

THEY GET RID OF THE LEADERS IN THE UNION.

MAYBE THEY ARE MAKING THINGS A LITTLE BIT MORE HOSPITABLE.

>> Reporter: MORE THAN 200 STARBUCKS STORES HAVE VOTED TO UNIONIZE.

NONE OF THEM HAVE AGREED TO A LABOR CONTRACT.

STARBUCKS HAS FOUGHT THE UNIONS EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.

THEY SAY THAT STARBUCKS IS OFFERING MENTAL HEALTH CARE FOR STORES THAT HAVE AN ORGANIZED.

THIS LED TO A COMPLAINT OF THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD.

>> THEY COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT BARGAINING WITH US SINCE WE UNIONIZE.

WE SENT IN A LEGAL NOTICE WITH THE BARGAINING DEMANDS.

THEY WAIVED THE RIGHT OVER THOSE BARGAINING BENEFITS SPECIFICALLY.

THEY ROLLED THAT THEY ARE NOT GIVING US THOSE BENEFITS.

IT WAS ILLEGAL.

>> Reporter: THESE STORES ARE PART OF A BUSY SUMMER FOR ORGANIZED LABOR.

>> THIS SUMMER FOR LABOR WAS UNION STRONG.

>> HOT LABOR SUMMER AS THE SAYING GOES.

>> THEY SAW THE SPIKE IN UNION DRIVES.

ACCORDING TO A RECENT REPORT FOR THE SCHOOL OF LABOR STUDIES, THE SECOND QUARTER OF THIS YEAR SAW 685 UNION DRIVES NATIONWIDE.

50% INCREASE FROM THE PREVIOUS QUARTER.

THEY WILL SAY IT TAKES SOME TIME FOR THE WORKERS TO INCREASE FROM THE UNION.

>> WE ARE TRYING TO NEGOTIATE CONTRACTS.

WE ARE TRYING TO GO IN FOR THE ROSTER.

WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO TO SEE THE CHANGE.

THAT'S WHY THE NUMBERS ARE NOT INCREASING RIGHT AWAY.

>> WE ARE SEEING LOTS OF EFFORTS WITH SMALLER EMPLOYERS.

THE UNION GROUP HISTORICALLY IN THE U.S.

IN THE 30s AND 40s, YOU HAD A GIANT GM FACTORIES ORGANIZING.

THEY HAD THOUSANDS OF EMPLOYEES TRYING TO HAVE THE LABOR HALL ALL AT ONCE.

>> Reporter: STARBUCKS SPOKESPERSON, SAYS THAT THEY MAKE PUNITIVE SCHEDULING CHANGES, AND THEY ARE TAKING ANTIUNION ACTIONS AT NEW JERSEY LOCATIONS.

MORE OF THE STORES ORGANIZE.

LABOR CONTRACTS GO UNDER NEGOTIATED.

MORE STRIKES ARE LIKELY TO FOLLOW.

STARBUCKS STAGE ONE A MONTH AGO.

>> THE LAST STRIKE WAS VERY LAST MINUTE.

WE DO NEED A LOT OF TIME TO PLAN IT.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, WORKERS NEEDED TO DECIDE THAT THIS IS THE POINT WHERE WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH.

WE ARE GOING ON STRIKE.

THAT SOMETHING WE CAN DO WITH ANY OF THEM.

>> Reporter: THEY ARE HOPING TO BRING STARBUCKS TO THE BARGAINING TABLE TO HAMMER OUT A DEAL.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, ON TED GOLDBERG.

>>> SANDRA MURPHY, AS A REVIEW OF HOW THEY RESPONDED TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

A VOW HE MADE ROUGHLY TWO YEARS AGO AFTER THE VIRUS BEGAN RAPIDLY SPREADING TO THE STATE.

THE PROMISE BECAME KNOWN TO THE INTERVIEW.

THE GOVERNOR ALSO PLAYED COY, WHILE DISPELLING RUMORS ABOUT WHETHER HE WILL RUN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2024.

MURPHY SAID HE WILL HAVE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN'S BACK, IF HE HAS RE-ELECTION.

HE HASN'T MET WITH DONORS ABOUT HIS OWN POTENTIAL BID IF PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN DECIDES NOT TO RUN.

EARLIER THIS YEAR, THEY FACE CALLS WITH MEMBERS AND THEIR PARTY TO NOT SEEK ANOTHER WHITE HOUSE TURN.

HE HAS RECENTLY BEEN ENJOYING MORE SUPPORT FOR RE-ELECTION FROM DEMOCRATS.

>> I SAID THIS TO THE PRESIDENT PRIVATELY.

HE SAYS HE IS RUNNING.

I TAKE HIM ON HIS WORD ASSUMING HE DOES RUN.

HE WILL HAVE NO BIGGER BACKER THAN YOURS TRULY.

I THINK THAT IS THE BASE CASE RIGHT NOW.

IN THE MEANTIME, I HAVE MY NOSE PRESSED AGAINST THE JERSEY GLASS.

WHETHER IT'S THROUGH THE NGA OR D GA, PICKUPS FROM OTHER PLACES, TRYING TO GIVE A JERSEY FLAVOR TO THEM.

AGAIN, KEEP MOVING FORWARD.

>> Reporter: AT THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC , NEW JERSEY'S OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND PREPAREDNESS LAUNCHED A NEW REP AND HAD MANUFACTURED NEWS.

THIS INFORMATION PORTAL WAS HERE.

OFFICIALS SAY IT HAS BECOME CRUCIAL FROM DEFECT TECHNOLOGY TO ALTERED VIRAL VIDEOS.

THIS DEALS WITH CONSPIRACY THEORIES.

I SPOKE WITH A RETIRED FBI AGENT WHO RUNS THE PORTAL.

THE NEW JERSEY OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY IS GOING ON ABOUT HOW HIS TEAM IS GETTING RELIABLE INFORMATION OUT TO THE PUBLIC.

IT IS WORKING TO ELIMINATE FALSE FACTS.

>> I'M THINKING BACK TO THE EARLY DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC WHERE THE PORTAL WAS LAUNCHED.

THEY HAD A NUMBER OF CONSPIRACY THEORIES THAT YOU ALL WERE LOOKING TO DEBUNK.

WHAT KINDS OF DISINFORMATION HAS THE PORTAL RECEIVED AND ATTEMPTED TO DISPEL?

>> YOU HIT, COVID PANDEMIC.

THAT WAS BACK IN 2020, AT THE HEIGHT OF THE COMIC CONVENTION AND THE PANDEMIC.

THAT WAS IN RESPONSE TO THIS ASSOCIATION AND THE MEDIA THAT WAS RELATED TO COVID.

MORE RECENT TOPICS, WE ADDRESSED THE 2020 ELECTION, THE WAR IN UKRAINE, AND THE CURRENT MONKEYPOX OUTBREAK.

>> WHAT IS THE MOST CONCERNING?

>> WE TAKE INTEREST IN INFORMATION THAT TAKES THREATS.

THEY ALSO HAVE THE NEXUS TO TEAR.

ANYBODY WHO MAY SEE THOSE TYPES OF INFORMATION ACTIONS, THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT THE COUNTERTERRORISM WASHED DESK.

1866 4 SAFE NJ.

TIPS AT NJ OHS P.GOV.

>> Reporter: IS A STILL PRIMARILY BEING SPREAD FOR THE DISINFORMATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS?

>> DISINFORMATION CAN AND IS SEEN ON MORE TRADITIONAL COMMUNICATIONS LIKE FLYERS AND WORD-OF-MOUTH, THE OTHER END IS RIGHT HERE ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

WE WERE TRYING TO SPREAD THE INFORMATION FARTHER THAN WE HAD EVER BEFORE.

>> HOW TO GET THEM TO WORK FOR YOU?

>> THE BIG ONE IS THE INFORMATION.

ONE OF THE THINGS IN THE PAST SPRING, WE NOW ARE GOING THROUGH IT.

WE HAVE A 24-HOUR CHECKLIST.

WE HAVE INDEPENDENT INFORMATION.

>> YOU MENTIONED DISTRUST WITH THE GOVERNMENT.

I WONDER IF THE GOVERNMENT RUN PORTAL LIKE THIS IS RIGHT HERE.

IT'S THE BEST WAY TO GO ABOUT IT.

WHAT YOU RECEIVE FOR QUESTIONING?

>> WE ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO DO THEIR OWN DUE DILIGENCE.

WE DON'T JUST ENCOURAGE THEM TO DO THAT, THEY ARE TRYING TO DO THAT DIFFERENTLY.

WE ARE DOING A GOOD JOB.

THEY ARE COMING TO THE SAME CONCLUSIONS THAT WE DO.

ON THAT OCCASION, WE MISSED THE MARKET.

THEY GOT SOMETHING WRONG.

WE HAVE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT'S EXTREMELY ACCURATE FOR THAT.

>> NEW JERSEY OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND PREPAREDNESS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>>> FOR THE SPOTLIGHT BUSINESS SEGMENT TONIGHT, IS GOING TO COST YOU MORE TO EARN A DEGREE IN JUST ABOUT ALL OF THE STATES FOUR YEAR COLLEGE CAMPUSES.

NJ ADVANCED MEDIA, TUITION AND FEES ARE INCREASING AT 25 OF NEW JERSEY'S 27 ECOLOGISTS BY ABOUT 3% ON AVERAGE.

THE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY IS NOW THE MOST EXPENSIVE IN THE STATE.

PRICE TAG OF MORE THAN $58,000 A YEAR.

PRINCETON UNIVERSITY WAS SECOND ON THE LIST AT JUST UNDER 58,000 ANNUALLY.

THOSE NUMBERS ARE GOING FOR THE BULK.

IT'S ABOUT $10,000 FOR THE BILL.

IT'S ALL ABOUT KANE UNIVERSITY IN THE COUNTY.

THE TUITION IS THERE, NEARLY $13,000.

HIGHER EDUCATION LEADERS SAY THAT RISING EDUCATION RATES MAKE IT DIFFICULT.

ONLY ELIZABETH UNIVERSITY AND BLOOMFIELD COLLEGE KEPT TUITION RATES FLAT FOR THE YEAR.

>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS SUPPORT PROVIDED BY THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FROM NEW JERSEY.

WE HAVE PROSPERITY FROM UNITING BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES.

GO TO NJ.COM.

THE PARENTS HAVE A LOT ON THEIR MINDS.

THEY SHIFT AWAY FROM THE RESTRICTIONS.

THEY HAD A RISE IN THE MASS SHOOTINGS.

SCHOOL SECURITY IS AGAIN FOR THE CONCERN.

THE NEW CURRICULUM IS SPARKING CONTROVERSY.

THEY ARE CREATING ANXIETY FOR SOME.

>> Reporter: TEACHERS AND STUDENTS FROM NEW JERSEY ARE GEARING UP FOR HEADING BACK TO CLASS.

>> I'M EXCITED FOR SCHOOL.

THE SUMMER HAS SLOWED DOWN.

>> Reporter: THIS WAS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

HER FATHER IS EXCITED TO SEE HER GO BACK AS LONG AS SHE IS SAFE.

>> AS FAR AS THEY ARE CONCERNED, THEY ARE RISING IT.

THEY'RE TRYING TO GO THROUGH WITH IT.

>> Reporter: THEY HAVE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF MAKING SURE THAT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE FOR CHILDREN.

>> THE PANDEMIC ABSOLUTELY MADE IT MORE ESSENTIAL, RIGHT?

THIS WAS BECAUSE OF THE ISOLATION THAT STUDENTS AND ALL PEOPLE FELT.

OUR STUDENTS FOCUS DURING THE PANDEMIC.

IT'S A LOT MORE FOR THE FOREFRONT.

THEY GET BETTER AND GET BACK.

WE'RE TRYING TO BE NORMAL.

THEY ARE TRYING TO GO BACK TO BEING THEMSELVES.

>> GOING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC, THEN RIGHT THERE.

>> Reporter: AFTER GETTING THERAPY TO HELP HIM WITH HIS FEELINGS, HE CREATED THIS.

THEY HELP OTHER ONES GETTING THE HELP THEY NEED.

>> THE SOLUTION IS RIGHT THERE.

THEY'RE TRYING TO REMOVE THEMSELVES FROM A CAGE.

WE REALLY NEED IT.

IT'S A DIFFERENT INSPECTION FOR MENTAL HEALTH.

WE TALKED ABOUT EACH OTHER FOR THE PEERS.

>> Reporter: WITH THE RECENT MATURATION IN TEXAS, WHERE MAKING SURE STUDENTS KNOW WHAT TO DO.

THEY'RE MAKING SURE IT'S AN EMERGENCY AND A KEY TO KEEPING THEM SAFE.

THAT'S WHY THEY HAVE BEEN RELATED TO STEPPING UP SECURITY.

>> THE SCHOOL HERE IN JERSEY CITY HELD A LOT OF FIRE DRILLS.

THEY HAVE ACTIVE SHOOTER DRILLS.

THEY HAVE ALL SORTS OF SAFETY PROTOCOLS THAT ARE IN PLACE AT THE PUBLIC SCHOOL THAT THEY GO TO.

>> Reporter: SHE IS HOWEVER A LITTLE BIT DISAPPOINTED THAT HER FOUR CHILDREN WILL NO LONGER HAVE ACCESS TO FREE MEALS AT SCHOOL.

SOMETHING SHE SAYS HAS BEEN A BIG HELP WITH THE RISE OF INFLATION.

>> FOUR CHILDREN AND BREAKFAST, AROUND TWO DOLLARS.

LUNCH IS AROUND THREE DOLLARS.

FIVE DOLLARS A DAY TIMES FOUR.

THAT ADDS UP OVER THE LENGTH OF THE ENTIRE SCHOOL YEAR.

HOPEFULLY, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE LOOKED AT WITH THE LEGISLATOR IN NEW JERSEY.

THAT IS A BILL THAT CAN BE PASSED.

OUR STUDENTS CAN GO BACK TO HAVING ACCESS TO THOSE LUNCHES.

THAT WAY, WE CAN SAVE MONEY AND USE IT TOWARDS OTHER THINGS.

>> Reporter: KIDS PACK UP THEIR BACKPACK FOR THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, EVEN THOUGH COVID FEARS HAVE LESSENED, IT SEEMS THERE ARE STILL PLENTY OF CLASSROOM CONCERNS FOR PARENTS TO WORRY ABOUT.

PARENTS BEING PARENTS.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I'M MELISSA ROSENBERG.

>> THE SCHOOL YEAR WILL LOOK DIFFERENT THAN THE LAST TWO YEARS.

THE SHIFT IS AWAY FROM MOST OF THE: PREVENTION GUIDELINES THAT DOMINATED SCHOOLS DURING THE PANDEMIC.

VACCINES ARE MORE READILY AVAILABLE, AND COVID CASES ARE ON THE DECLINE.

THERE WILL BE NORMAL OR NO MORE MILITARY CLASSROOM SCREENINGS.

SMALLER CLASSROOMS ARE OVER.

WE ARE TRYING TO TALK ABOUT WHAT TEACHERS AND STUDENTS CAN EXPECT WHEN THE DOORS OPEN TOMORROW.

JOHN, THANKS FOR JOINING US ON THIS LABOR DAY.

WITH THE EXCEPTION OF NEWARK, WHERE MASKS WILL STILL BE REQUIRED, SCHOOLS ARE GOING TO NOT LOOK A WHOLE LOT DIFFERENT.

>> THIS IS AFTER A COUPLE FALSE STARTS.

THIS IS INDEED IN THE FALL.

HE RETURNS TO NORMAL AT LEAST IN TERMS OF THE PANDEMIC GRADE WE TALKED TO A SUPERINTENDENT.

WE ARE TRYING TO GO FOR ALL OF THIS.

YOU PICK SOMETHING UNCERTAIN.

YOU'RE TRYING TO AT LEAST BE AWAY FROM THE REQUIREMENT.

WE STARTED LAST WEEK FROM FRIDAY.

WE SAID THAT THEY WERE MOVING TO A ROUTINE DISEASE CONTROL MODEL.

THEY WON'T HAVE REQUIREMENTS.

WE HAD DIFFERENT TERMS OF TESTING.

WE WERE QUARANTINING.

UNLESS OF COURSE YOU TEST POSITIVE.

THEY WERE TELLING YOU TO GO HOME FOR FIVE DAYS.

THE EXPOSURE IN THE CONTRACT TRACING IS TRYING TO GET THEM THROUGH.

>> HOW DO EDUCATORS AND ADMINISTRATORS FEEL ABOUT THIS?

>> PUSH AND PULL CERTAINLY WITH UNIONS AND TEACHERS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

THEY ARE STILL GOING TO BE IN NEWARK.

IT'S ABOUT WHY WE SEE THEM HOLDING ONTO THAT MANDATE.

BY AND LARGE, TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS ARE LOOKING TO GET BACK TO NORMAL.

THEY'RE TRYING TO TAKE IT.

THEY'RE TRYING TO BE POSITIVE AT THE MOMENT.

>> WAS CLOSE WAS DUE IN FACT GO THROUGH WITH IT.

IT >> REMOTE LEARNING.

THEY HAVE GOOD LESSONS HERE.

WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP IT RIGHT THERE.

THEY HAVE DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES WERE INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS NEED TO GO TO REMOTE LEARNING.

THE MANTRA IS IN PERSON LEARNING RIGHT NOW.

I DON'T SEE THAT CHANGING.

CERTAINLY NOT IN THE SHORT TERM.

>> VERY QUICKLY, IT'S A VICTORY FOR ALL OF THE PARENTS WHO PROTESTED AND SPOKE OUT AT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING AGAINST A LOT OF THE SAFETY PROTOCOLS.

>> I THINK CERTAINLY, THERE IS GOING TO BE A LOT OF DEBATE ON WHETHER THE PROTOCOLS DID HELP IN THE LONG RUN.

PARENTS ARE LOOKING TO GET THESE KIDS BACK IN THE CLASSROOM.

SURE.

I THINK IT'S A VICTORY FOR ALL PARENTS IF KIDS CAN BE BACK TO LEARNING AT A LEVEL THAT WE WANT THEM TO BE.

>> WE WISH THEM A GREAT SCHOOL YEAR.

JOHN ROONEY, THANKS FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> THAT'S GOING TO DO IT FOR US TONIGHT.

MAKE SURE TO HEAD OVER TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.ORG, AND FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LATEST NEWS ON THE GARDEN STATE.

I'M RHIANNA PELOSI.

FOR THE ENTIRE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS TEAM , THANKS FOR BEING WITH US ON THIS LABOR DAY.

WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

>>> THIS IS AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.

NEW JERSEY REALTORS.

MORE INFORMATION IS ONLINE AT NJ REALTOR.COM.

>> AND JM INSURANCE COMPANIES HAS BEEN SERVING POLICYHOLDERS FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

JUST WHO ARE THE POLICYHOLDERS?

THEY ARE THE SOCIAL SERVICE AND NONPROFIT PIONEERS WHO LEND A HELPING HAND.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INNOVATORS AS WELL.

THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO PROVIDED THE SKILLED LABOR.

WE HAVE THE HOMEGROWN CHAMPIONS.

WE HAVEN'T THEM -- WE HAVE NEW JERSEY COVERED.