Haddonfield Schools To Close For Coronavirus Prep

HADDONFIELD, NJ — Schools will be closed in the Haddonfield Public School District on March 16 so teachers and staff can prepare for the possibility of remote learning due to coronavirus fears, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Larry Mussoline announced on Monday.

“All students will have the day off while teachers, staff and administrators spend the day planning for the possibility of virtual classrooms and at-home learning,” said Mussoline, who added that the day will not have to be made up later in the year. “ … I completely understand that, with a week’s notice, you have limited time to make plans for childcare, but we strongly believe that preparedness is our top priority, and that this plan is a must.”

After school activities on that day will go on as planned, Mussoline said.

All schools in the state are guided by a written directive from state and county officials when it comes to closing schools. As of Monday, the district has not been told to close schools, Mussoline said.

“However, it is our responsibility to be prepared for that possibility because of the duration of the closure,” Mussoline said. “If the Haddonfield Board of Education is directed to close our schools, we need to be able to continue to educate our students. This kind of extensive homeschooling is virtually unheard of and could possibly be an enormous challenge to implement.”

During the development day, faculty and staff will work on plans for electronic communication for lessons and/or paper workbooks, Mussoline said.

Training will be needed for Canvas and Google Classroom, and the special education department will need time to work out solutions for IEPs if students aren’t allowed in school, Mussoline said.
The district will work on the assumption that all homes have Internet and computer access, Mussoline said.

School trips planned for April and beyond are still scheduled for the moment, but the district is watching closely for travel bans to specific cities, Mussoline said. The district is also monitoring the status of interscholastic events, and will work with the NJSIAA if the district needs to close.

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The announcement comes after the first presumptive positive case of new coronavirus was identified in Camden County. A Cherry Hill man in his 60s has been hospitalized in stable condition and isolation since March 3, according to county and state officials. Read more here: First Presumptive Case Of Coronavirus Reported In South Jersey

Four employees at a Cherry Hill Urgent Care Center are under self-quarantine after being exposed to the man the same day he was hospitalized. Read more here: 4 Cooper Staff Quarantined After Possible Coronavirus Exposure

Anyone in Haddonfield who has questions or concerns within the school district can contact the district spokeswoman Polly Mitchell at pmitchell@haddonfield.k12.nj.us.

The New Jersey Department of Health has partnered with the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System to open and operate a call center (1-800-222-1222) for public use regarding questions, concerns, and other information related to coronavirus spread in New Jersey. More information is also available on the state's coronavirus webpage.