Delayed Opening For Toms River Schools On Wednesday: See Start Times

TOMS RIVER, NJ — The Toms River Regional School District will have a 90-minute delayed opening on Wednesday, the district announced.

The announcement comes as the area remains under a cold weather advisory, with temperatures well below freezing and wind chills anticipated to be below zero, according to the National Weather Service.

The advisory is in effect until 10 a.m. Wednesday.

"Wind chills of as low as 10 below zero could result in hypothermia if precautions are not taken," the weather service warns. "Frostbite and hypothermia will occur if unprotected skin is exposed to these temperatures."

Superintendent Michael Citta, in a statement sent to district families and staff and shared on the district's Facebook page, said district could see delayed openings Thursday and Friday as well if the temperatures remain below freezing as they are predicted to do.

"Sunday’s storm has presented unique challenges considering the volume of snow, ice, and the extreme cold that accompanied it," Citta said. "When we say that safety is our highest priority, it’s the truth– we strive to make decisions that honor this fact, and we also have all hands on deck to make it a reality. We’ve been working around the clock to ensure that every means of travel to our schools is as safe as can be considering these conditions."

Citta said the walkways and sidewalks have been the biggest challenge, and said that while clearing them "is a shared responsibility, it just hasn’t happened, for a number of reasons." Snow drifts and plowed piles have made some areas impassable.

"Our district has many walkers, and those students and their families deserve safe paths to school," Citta said. "We ask our walking families specifically to please find an alternate way to school, and, if that is not seemingly possible, please contact your school and we will work with you in any way we possibly can."

"Again, I cannot stress enough our collective gratitude for your patience this week," Citta said. "Believe me, we are doing everything we can to get all of our students back to school safely, and we expect that to begin tomorrow, albeit with a delay. We are looking forward to seeing everyone then. Please, stay safe."

The 90-minute delay means morning vocational school, pre-K and Y-Kids programs are canceled, and no breakfast will be served.

The school opening times are as follows:

8:45 a.m.: Toms River High Schools East, North and South: 8:45 a.m.

9:25 a.m.: Intermediate East, Intermediate North, North Dover full-day preschool: 9:25 a.m.

10:10 a.m.: Intermediate South, Citta Elementary, Hooper Avenue Elementary, Silver Bay Elementary, Silver Bay full-day preschool, Walnut Street Elementary

10:55 a.m.: Beachwood Elementary, Cedar Grove Elementary, East Dover Elementary, North Dover Elementary, Pine Beach Elementary, South Toms River Elementary, Washington Street Elementary, West Dover Elementary

11:25 a.m.: PM Preschool at North Dover Elementary

12:20 p.m.: PM Preschool at Citta Elementary, Silver Bay Elementary

1:05 p.m.: PM Preschool at Cedar Grove Elementary, Pine Beach Elementary.