Coronavirus: West Orange Schools Closed For Week, Possibly More

WEST ORANGE, NJ — West Orange’s public schools will shift spring break and close next week due to concerns over the new coronavirus known as COVID-19.

There’s the possibility that the closure will last beyond that, in which case the district’s e-learning or tele-schooling plans will begin on Monday, March 23, according to Superintendent Scott Cascone.

School administrators recently posted the following advisory on the district’s website:

“All after school and evening extracurricular, athletic, and community events scheduled through Monday, March 16 will be cancelled or postponed without exception. Field trips which have not been cancelled to date will proceed as scheduled. After care programs will occur as regularly scheduled. All students and staff will be asked to vacate the premises directly after dismissal and the facilities will be closed to staff other than administration, custodial, and building and grounds staff. It is uncertain as to whether measures such as these will be necessary moving forward in the long term. However, in the short term, this hiatus will allow time to monitor the evolving situation, ensure the most thorough cleaning possible, and reduce social interaction between students and staff. As of now, the school closure for professional development remains scheduled for Monday, March 16.”

Cascone offered the following statement about the district’s plans on Friday.

“As superintendent of schools, I am here not only to ensure that all students are provided a thorough and effective education, but also to listen and respond to the collective will the people. As you know, numerous school districts including all those schools in Bergen County have moved forward with a long term closure.

“This morning, I met with various agencies including the department of health and, as of the time that I write this correspondence, we have still yet to receive a written directive to close our schools. The New Jersey statue which permits schools to use tele-schooling in lieu of instructional days explicitly states that a school district must receive this directive in writing from the state or local departments of health.

“That being said, it has become clear to me that many of our community members would be uncomfortable with me allowing the opening of schools on Monday, March 16. However, I am also responsible for ensuring, as pursuant to the Department of Education memo and based on my own philosophy and beliefs, that all students have a goodwill access to the services.

“Our team has worked day and night to prepare for transferring our school district to a virtual model. We have answered many of the questions relative to how this would get done. In a short period of time we have built a comprehensive e-learning platform for all schools and all teachers. All of our staff has been trained on how to use it and have begun to build out their content for those sites.

“However, I would be disingenuous and doing a disservice to the children and parents of the school district if I were to move forward next week with this plan with so many questions still left to be answered. There are several key pieces which, while we have good preliminary plans, logistics still need to be ironed out. Furthermore, we need to ensure that all of our stakeholders have received adequate communication and understanding about how to access the services.

“Namely, I speak of our Food Services and ensuring that our students eligible for free and reduced lunch understand how and where to obtain this food. Secondly, while we have an extensive amount of data relative to the students in our schools that do not have Internet or computer access, the fact remains that we have yet to zero in on all of those households specifically. Further, while we have hardcopy packets developed to go home to those households, the massive job of reproducing hundreds of multi-page packets and either distributing them to those households or placing them in central locations still needs to be done. Finally, and from a social emotional standpoint at this time of uncertainty and even anxiety, to thrust our students, teachers, and families into the situation next week whereby, not only with the many seeking alternative childcare or asking others to care for their children, now we are asking them to embark upon an entirely new endeavor and enterprise with the learning.

“In short, we need more time. Therefore, please be advised, that after discussing this situation with the Board of Education members, I have recommended that we shift our spring break vacation to next week. In this way, regardless of whether the governor or state department of health directs to close our schools, we will be in compliance. Not only will this break enable us to quarantine our facilities for 11 days, but it will also give our administration and our teachers the same amount of time to ensure that if and when we must convert to a virtual schooling model, we, the professionals and our community members, are as prepared as possible and more comfortable to do so.

“We understand that some of our community members and staff members may have pre-scheduled vacations for that spring break week which is four (4) work days not including Good Friday. For those families and staff who feel that they are not able or willing to change their vacation plans, we will work with all of our stakeholders to be as accommodating as possible. There exists a distinct possibility that, at the time of our originally scheduled spring break, we may in fact still be in a quarantine situation with our schools and travel may be limited anyway.

“I have spent many hours processing all the information and data available to me, and I am confident, while not ideal, this plan represents the only way in which I can fulfill my charge as a superintendent of schools.

“Therefore, next week, beginning March 16, the schools will be closed for the entire week as follows:

• March 16: Snow Day
• March 17-March 20: Spring Break

“If going into the week of March 23 it becomes necessary to remain closed due to the Coronavirus, e-learning or tele-schooling will begin on Monday, March 23. You should expect additional and ongoing communication next week to keep you apprised of the next steps concerning tele-schooling. I ask you to please check the district website periodically for updates and/or notifications.

“I thank you in advance for your time and attention and wish you all the best for a restful and healthy spring break.”

CORONAVIRUS IN NEW JERSEY

The number of people with the coronavirus in New Jersey had risen to 69 as of Saturday. Authorities said two people have died. Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

Gov. Phil Murphy has declared a state of emergency, schools across the state have begun to cancel classes, and local governments and community organizations have launched their own efforts to protect residents from the virus.

In general — depending on where they live — New Jersey residents still face a “low risk” of contracting COVID-19, State Epidemiologist Christina Tan said during a Wednesday press conference.

There have been more than 2,900 confirmed U.S. cases of the new coronavirus as of Sunday morning according to Johns Hopkins University, which says the disease also has killed 57 people nationwide.

New Jersey Coronavirus Updates: Don't miss local and statewide announcements about novel coronavirus precautions. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters.

WHAT IS COVID-19?

Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that include the common cold as well as much more serious diseases. The strain that emerged in China in late 2019, now called COVID-19, is related to others that have caused serious outbreaks in recent years, including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the U.S. was on Jan. 21.

The disease, which apparently originated in animals, is now transferring from person to person, although the mechanism is not yet fully understood. Its symptoms include fever, coughing and shortness of breath, and many patients develop pneumonia. There is as yet no vaccine against COVID-19 it and no antiviral treatment.

According to the CDC, the best way of preventing the disease is to avoid close contact with people who are sick, to avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands, to wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and to use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol if soap and water are not available.

To avoid spreading any respiratory illness, the CDC recommends staying at home when you are sick, covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue and throwing the tissue in the trash, cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces.

The CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a face mask to protect themselves from respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19. You should only wear a mask if a health care professional recommends it. A face mask should be used by people who have COVID-19 and are showing symptoms. This is to protect others from the risk of getting infected. The use of face masks also is crucial for health workers and other people who are taking care of someone infected with COVID-19 in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).

Residents who have questions about the virus can contact the State of New Jersey's hotline at 1 (800) 222-1222. The hotline is home of the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System, and is staffed 24 hours a day by state health workers.

Keep updated with local public safety alerts at the Patch West Orange Facebook page. Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com