After 3 Coronavirus Cases, Cranford School Is Remote For 2 Weeks

CRANFORD, NJ — Cranford Superintendent of Schools Scott Rubin said in an email Thursday morning that the K-8 Hillside Avenue School will go all-remote for two weeks starting this coming Monday due to coronavirus cases, and another school reported a case as well.

"Based on guidance from the Township Health Department, Hillside Avenue School will transition to full remote learning for 14 days," Rubin wrote.

Read more about coronavirus in Cranford, and where to get tested, here.

Since schools are closed for the annual state teachers' union convention Thursday and Friday (which is remote this year), remote schooling will run from this Monday through Nov. 18. On-site class resumes Nov. 19.

Rubin said the Health Department made its determination because:

• This is the third case within the last five days at the school
• Union County cases are on the rise
• "We are in a moderate zone according to the regional COVID-19 activity level matrix."
• They hope to eliminate the possibility of spread within the school, "which at the present time, we have no evidence of."

The Health Department said other schools can continue to operate on their regular schedules.

Rubin originally had sent a letter out Tuesday after one student tested remote at Hillside Avenue School, saying that classroom would close for one day while contract tracing began.

The district offered an all-remote or hybrid learning plan for this year.

Other cases

Rubin also said that an "individual" (which could mean a staff member or student) at Livingston Avenue School has tested positive for COVID-19 and is self-isolating.

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"The Township Health Office, who is conducting contact tracing, will communicate directly with those individuals who have been identified as a close contact and will advise those families accordingly," Rubin wrote. "As per the NJ Department of Health, close contact is defined as someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period starting from two days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, two days prior to test specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated."

Rubin said that families of students who were in contact with the positive individuals in the schools have been notified.

Livingston Avenue School will resume in-person instruction this monday. "Prior to Monday, an additional deep cleaning will take place while contact tracing is conducted," Rubin wrote.

No more information

"The information I am providing you here has been composed in consultation with and vetted by the Department of Health, and I am not in a position to comment further," Rubin wrote. "We are hopeful that the mitigation measures we have in place, such as universal masking, screening procedures, social distancing, enhanced cleaning procedures, and other precautions, will have their intended effect and reduce or minimize the risk of transmission in the school environment."

He encouraged parents and students to continue following the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention promoted safeguards, such as:

• Staying home when you are sick;
• Washing hands often for at least 20 seconds;
• Covering coughs and sneezes and properly disposing of tissues;
• Limiting close contact with people who are sick and not sharing food, drinks and utensils;
• Practicing social distancing (staying at least 6 feet apart);
• Wearing a face covering while in school; and
• Continuing to monitor your health for symptoms
• Immediately notifying your child’s school if they have a positive COVID-19 test result

Read more about coronavirus in Cranford, and where to get tested, here.

The school district calendar is here.

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