Lawrence Public Schools Opt For Half-Day Schedule This Week

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ — After a week of virtual classes, students at Lawrence Township Public Schools returned to classrooms beginning Monday, but only for half a day.

In a letter to parents on Sunday, school Superintendent Ross Kasun said students will attend school for half a day, beginning Monday, Jan. 7 to Friday, Jan. 14.

The plan was implemented as around seven bus drivers will be absent this week, posing transportation issues.

“We will need flexibility and support at certain bus stops, and we will contact those that will be impacted directly. Students may need to be picked up early and/or dropped off late,” Kasun said.

“As per the Department of Education, there is no "option or choice" to keep children home and receive remote instruction. With the shortage of available COVID tests, we would recommend anyone who has symptoms and waiting for a test to stay home. This week, those students will be permitted to view class instruction via Zoom.”

Here are the start and end time for all schools in the district:

• LHS/LMS: 7:40 a.m. - 11:40 a.m.
• LIS: 8:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
• BFS/EPS/LES/SWS Grades K-3: 8:45 a.m.- 12:45 p.m.
• LES Preschool: 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
• BFS Preschool: 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Many school districts in the state have extended virtual learning due to COVID-19 related staffing shortage. On Monday, the East Windsor Regional School District was forced to transition to online learning for a week due to staff shortage related to COVID-19. Read More Here: Staff Shortage Forces East Windsor Schools Go Virtual

All 21 counties in New Jersey are now in the "red" zone for coronavirus, meaning they are all experiencing "very high" levels of coronavirus spread, according to the state Department of Health Friday.

The last time the state was designated a "very high" zone of coronavirus activity was in April 2020, when the government shut down most businesses and everyone went into lockdown. Read More: 'Very High' COVID Spread In All 21 NJ Counties: CDC

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