At last night’s Board of Education meeting, there was a discussion regarding the return to five-days per week of in-person instruction for students. This increase to in-person learning is proposed to begin on Monday, April 12, contingent upon the data collected in the portal. Current start and end times for the elementary, middle and high school students will remain the same until further notice.

As you may be aware, last week the CDC updated their guidance for schools. The new guidance reduces student desk physical distancing requirements in many cases from 6 feet to 3 feet, which will allow us to move forward with our plans for more in-person learning. Six feet of social distancing is still required for common areas, and for staff proximity to each other and to students. 

The parent portal is now open and will remain open until noon on Friday, March 26. Parents/guardians must log in and select an option for each of their children in the district. By making this final selection, you are committing your child/children to return to in-person instruction for the planned five days per week OR for your child/children to remain virtual for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year if this plan is implemented. Please note that this is your last opportunity to make a selection for this school year.  

These selections will be in effect April 12 through the end of the year. Due to space constraints, we will not be able to accommodate requests for in-person instruction that are received after noon on Friday. 

Please know that based on the data we receive from the parent portal selections and the continuously updated guidance from the CDC and the Health Department, the district will continue to look into expanding the amount of in-person instruction time for students.

For elementary families who are in need of afternoon childcare, Right at School continues to offer an in-district program. Currently, the program is offered at Washington and Yantacaw. Based on enrollment and interest, in late April, Right at School will look to open sites at the other three elementary schools, daily until 5PM, On Tuesday, March 30 at 6:30PM, Right at School will hold a virtual parent night. Please feel free to join via Google Meet here. You may also contact Right At School directly at jessica.schneider@rightatschool.com. 

An important reminder: If you plan to travel during the district’s spring break, outside of New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Delaware, students and staff will need to quarantine for at least seven days upon return.  COVID testing will be required for staff members who have traveled, and available to students as well. The district is providing testing on Wednesday, April 15. As per the CDC guidance testing should occur 3 to 5 days post travel.  If a student is choosing not to be tested, they must quarantine for 10 days. Due to the many COVID-19 variants now circulating, this quarantine/testing guidance is still accurate even if you have had COVID in the past 90 days or are fully vaccinated. 

As a district, we continue to thank you for your continued support, patience and partnership as we look to increase in-person instruction for all our students. Your building principal will be in touch with more details as we approach this updated plan to instruction.

Sincerely,

Dr. Julie Glazer