Mahwah Schools 'Considering' Pre-Holiday Closure: District

MAHWAH, NJ — The Mahwah Board of Education announced they'll consider closing schools prior to the November and December holidays, in anticipation of close contact and travel as coronavirus cases spike in New Jersey.

The district is meeting with medical stakeholders this week to discuss the feasibility of maintaining both in-person and virtual learning in the district, and will discuss the matter of a district-wide closure then.

Currently, the district said in a letter recapping the first phase of instruction, 1,846 students are enrolled in hybrid learning while 911 students are fully remote.

"By reviewing our wellness information, inclusive of township, county, and state COVID-19 data in an ongoing fashion, we will be determining if there is a need to consider closing in anticipation of travel and close contact during the holidays within the months of November and December," they wrote.

This communication came days prior to Gov. Phil Murphy's expected new coronavirus restrictions as the state reported over 5,00 new cases over the weekend, and hit the daily 3,000 case mark for the first time since April.

In a recent news conference, Murphy said there weren't any wide-sweeping school changes on the horizon.

"We deal with these districts one district at a time," Murphy said. "They consult with us every step of the way when they make decisions like that."

Though the government may not mandate the change, Mahwah administrators said they are looking at neighboring districts as they consider their next reopening phase.

"This medical information, along with the review of surrounding school districts’ adjustments to their own calendars and plans, will become part of our guidance in our next instructional phase. Should our calendar be changed, you will be provided with advance notification," they wrote.