Board of Education

Coronavirus Update, 3/10 – District Letter to Families, Staff & Students

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March 10, 2020

Dear South Orange & Maplewood Families,

The South Orange & Maplewood School District continues to work in partnership with our local, state, and federal health agencies to receive and share daily updates, guidance and mandates surrounding the coronavirus disease, or COVID-19.  We will continue to work with Public Health Officials at the town, county, and state level as we make decisions that impact all of us.

At this time, there are no known or reported cases of COVID-19 in Essex County.  Currently, there are 15 positive cases of COVID-19 in New Jersey.  I am also in close contact with many colleagues at nearby school districts.  A number of schools have closed because of COVID-19 exposure, while others are doing so to prepare for the potential impact of contamination.  We understand that closing schools is disruptive to the lives of our district families; at this time, therefore, our District is not planning to close schools.

We will be shifting Friday, March 13th to an early-dismissal day for the entire school district (this date was previously scheduled as a parent-teacher conference early-dismissal for elementary schools only). Our District team has been working with key staff members on the development of an offsite learning plan in case of a long-term closure.  While we do not believe that additional full days for professional development are necessary to complete this plan, we do want to provide our teachers with a timely review of the extended academic student assignments.

In the event that we experience a confirmed positive COVID-19 case in the School District of South Orange and Maplewood (staff or student), we will close all schools in our school district for 24 hours. During this 24 hour-period, every school building will be deep-cleaned, and we will reassess the concern with our local health officers to determine next steps.

The District will put an offsite learning plan into effect only if dire circumstances force a long-term school closure or if the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) orders our schools to close for an extended period to control the spread of the virus.  The closure of District schools would not only create child care challenges and other disruptions for district parents/guardians but would also suspend critical and social services for hundreds of our families.  We hope to avoid that eventuality if possible.  If we do need to implement an offsite plan, it will involve multiple modes of sharing learning and assignments with students, likely including some online work for many students.  For the first time ever, the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) will allow schools to utilize online learning to satisfy the 180-school-day requirement if the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH)

I would like to provide you with a few updates on what our District is doing to prepare for the potential impact of COVID-19 on our schools.

  • A draft framework has been developed for our educational approach to offsite learning for Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle, and High School and Special Services students. Our Curriculum and Instruction team is now formalizing our approach to ensure that the design offers consistency across all grade levels and secondary courses. The team will work with subject-level and grade-level supervisors (i.e., teachers and department leader) to provide input and details and assignment design.
  • We are working to establish Google Classroom sites specifically for each grade level in each school from 3rd – 12th (Assignments would be graded.)
  • Technology needs and gaps are being reviewed to determine hardware capacity. We have a diverse student population, and some of our students do not have regular access to technology or the internet. We will ensure that all students will have equal access to learning.
  • We are assessing the language translation needs for parental guidelines.
  • Services and logistics for out-of-district placement for students with severe disabilities and special needs are being assessed.
  • Since, by law, the district must continue providing meals to students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch if schools are closed due to COVID-19, we are planning for this scenario with our food service vendor.
  • Finally, we are requesting that teachers provide activities/syllabi to any students who have to self-quarantine for a prolonged period.

In response to recommendations by the CDC (the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) to limit social contact, the District has reviewed upcoming events that were to bring large groups of students, adults, and community members together, as well as upcoming field trips.  It has been determined that the following postponements/cancelations are necessary:

  • The Matilda performances scheduled for Columbia High School are postponed. I have been in personal contact with Principal Morgan and the show’s director, Bethany Pettigrew, and we will continue the conversation on how to provide opportunities for our cast and crew to share their production with those who have purchased tickets.
  • Our Parent/Teacher Conferences scheduled for this week will no longer be face-to-face. We are encouraging our teachers, principals, and school-based personnel to support telephone conferences, Skype conferences, and other alternatives.
  • We will create a digital alternative to our Intentional Integration Town Hall, which is scheduled for next Wednesday, March 18.
  • A moratorium has been placed on all field trips until further notice. The First Tech Challenge (FTC) New Jersey Robotics State Championship that was scheduled for Columbia High School has also been postponed.

Additionally, we continue to implement all of the preventative measures as we have indicated in prior communications.  Within our buildings, custodial staff members are cleaning common and high-traffic areas several times a day, and we are providing resources, supplies, and time for students to wash their hands regularly. Our cleanliness expectations were reiterated to our custodial staff during recent trainings. Hand sanitizer continues to be distributed to every classroom teacher in the district. We have also implemented a daily sanitizing schedule for our school buses. Lastly, in a preponderance of caution, we will proceed with a new weekend deep-cleaning methodology utilizing electrostatic disinfectant sprayers for each school building (beginning this Saturday).

Please help us by keeping sick children at home. We are asking anyone with symptoms of any illness stay home for a minimum of 48 hours without a fever. If a student exhibits illness or COVID-19 related symptoms, the school nurse will contact a parent or guardian to come pick them up immediately.

We recognize how challenging this situation is for our families, students, and staff, and we take this situation seriously. We are taking real-time preventative measures in response to new information that key agencies provide.

Our goal is to keep our doors open as long as possible while prioritizing the health and safety of our students and staff. Thank you for working with us through this evolving situation that impacts all facets of life in our entire community. We will continue to provide you with regular updates.

Educationally Yours,

 

Dr. Ronald G. Taylor

Superintendent of Schools

Download:  March 3, 2020, SOMSD Coronavirus Update Letter to Families/Staff/Students

COVID-19 Updates in NJ (as of 3/9/20)

In conjunction with the NJ Department of Health and our local health departments, we want to provide you with the most up-to-date information on the coronavirus (as of 3/9/20), as news and updates are changing constantly.

  1. There are currently 15 positive cases of coronavirus in New Jersey (updated as of 3/10)
  2. The CDC advises that those over the age of 60 and those with underlying health conditions should practice social distancing and avoid large crowds in public spaces and large gatherings.  Examples of public spaces include anywhere that people can freely gather in significant numbers: malls, grocery stores, the movie theatre, concert halls, libraries, gyms, and community centers.
  3. We are advised to reconsider travel plans by plane and to continually follow the travel advisories by the CDC.
  4. To prevent the spread of any respiratory disease, please practice RESPIRATORY ETIQUETTE. That means the following:
    • Cover your cough or your sneeze with the elbow of your sleeve or with a tissue and throw it away;
    • Wash your hands for 20 seconds and use a paper towel to open the door if you are in a public space, or use hand sanitizer;
    • Wash your hands every time after being in a public space;
    • Stay home if you are sick; and
    • Get a flu shot. While the flu shot does not prevent coronavirus, it can help strengthen your immune system and keep you healthier during this time.
  1. The CDC advises that those who have traveled to a Level 3 Travel advisory area should self-monitor or self-quarantine at home and practice social distancing for 14 days from the time of departure from that country.
    • When you are self-quarantining/ self-monitoring, you may not have any symptoms.
    • If you are self-monitoring, please practice social distancing. Social distancing is staying away from public spaces, and not attending social events.
  1. If you have traveled, or have come in contact with a positive case of coronavirus and are exhibiting signs and symptoms of cough, fever, and shortness of breath, please call your health care provider. Inform them by phone of your travel or exposure history and your symptoms BEFORE you go to the doctor’s office or to the emergency room.
  2. Starting this week, your health care provider can write a prescription for you to get a COVID-19 lab test at a commercial lab such as Quest or LabCorp. However, the lab will not test you unless you meet the symptom criteria of coughing, fever, and shortness of breath and have had exposure to a positive COVID-19 case or a recent travel history.
  3. If you have any questions about self-monitoring during this time, please call the 24-hour state hotline for COVID-19: (800) 222-1222.
  4. Yesterday afternoon, as part of the state’s coordinated response to address the novel coronavirus outbreak, Governor Phil Murphy declared a State of Emergency and a Public Health Emergency, effective immediately, to ramp up New Jersey’s efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19. Executive Order No. 103 declares a state of emergency and public health emergency across all 21 counties in New Jersey, allowing state agencies and departments to utilize state resources to assist affected communities responding to and recovering from COVID-19 cases.

 

 

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE: From the Office of the Superintendent, February 28, 2020

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Dear South Orange & Maplewood School District Community,

We continue to monitor the alerts from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) about the possibility of the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) within the United States. We are following the current guidance posted by the New Jersey Department of Education and the New Jersey Department of Health. Please note that at this time we have no immediate concerns about this virus in our schools.

However, as recommended by the CDC, which has encouraged communities to develop specific measures to prepare themselves to respond to any potential local transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19, our District will be working to update our existing Emergency Management Procedure (which currently addresses prevention of contagious diseases) to address any possible disruption to our schools that a pandemic would cause. We are working with township health departments, central administration, technology, facilities, curriculum & instruction, health services, and special services to develop a scalable plan to address the continuation of instruction for our students should a shutdown be required.

As per our previous communication in early February, the NJ Department of Health and the South Orange & Maplewood School District recommend that all families with a child returning from the area of the world highly impacted by the coronavirus – most notably, at present, Mainland China, South Korea, Italy, Iran, and Japan (see the list at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html) – to please contact their child’s principal and/or school nurse prior to sending their child back to school.

If a child has traveled to one of these areas within the last two weeks and has already returned to school, we ask that the family remove the child and alert the principal and school nurse. The District and school nurses will work with these families to determine the appropriate timeline for re-entry to school.

Please only notify the school district about your own child/children who has/have recently traveled to a country impacted by COVID-19. We cannot discuss the health concerns of other students due to confidentiality restrictions.

We are also currently working to increase our schools’ stock-supply of hand sanitizers. While frequent hand washing is the District’s preference to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, if and when soap and water are not available, hand sanitizers will be provided as an alternative. For our younger students, teachers will be asked to emphasize the correct use of hand sanitizers: apply a dime‐sized amount to dry hands and rub hands together until completely dry.

At this time, our District is implementing the following protocols if COVID-19 is detected in the area or if any student/staff has recently traveled to a country impacted by the coronavirus (or has a close family member who resides in the same household):

  • Sick students with a fever should not attend school. School nurses will have the authority to send sick and feverish students home (any sick students waiting to be picked up will be kept in an area separate from general student body);
  • School nurses will have N95 masks available to protect themselves and surgical masks to place on sick children waiting to be picked up;
  • Sick staff are encouraged to also stay home and can be sent home by the school nurse if infection is suspected;
  • Students traveling from endemic areas or those who have infected family members should stay home for two weeks and only return if asymptomatic;
  • Custodial staff will have protective masks N95, gloves and protective gear when cleaning and disinfecting classrooms or other areas where there were students with suspected coronavirus;
  • In the event of a quarantine requiring a school shutdown, the District will implement its emergency pandemic plan (currently in planning). If a shutdown is required, its assumed duration would be 2-3 weeks, but that length of time may change.
  • As a continuing preventative measure custodians will clean high contact surfaces (door handles, handrails, etc.) as well as large contact areas more frequently with disinfectant products to help lessen the transfer of common bacteria/viruses.

There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. We recommend that everyone follow the CDC guidelines provided below to help prevent the transmission of respiratory infections:

  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
  • If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
  • Follow the CDC’s recommendations for using a respiratory face mask: The CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a face mask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.  Face masks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. The use of face masks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of others in close settings (at home or in a healthcare facility).

Also, as Spring Break is near, if you are preparing any international travel for yourself or family we encourage you to check the CDC Coronavirus Information for Travel for precautions and updates on non-essential travel.

As more information becomes available, these guidelines may need to be adjusted accordingly. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our students, staff, and community safe and healthy.

Educationally Yours,

 

Dr. Ronald G. Taylor

Superintendent of Schools

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

CORONAVIRUS SITUATION SUMMARY (as of 2/26/20):

As shared by the CDC, a small number of imported cases of COVID-19 in travelers have been detected in the US. Person-to-person spread of COVID-19 also has been seen among close contacts of returned travelers from Wuhan, but at this time, this virus is NOT currently spreading in the community in the United States.  There are currently 60 cases in the US under isolation.  For the most recent data on COVID-19 in the US, see https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-in-us.html.

Outbreaks of novel virus infections among people are always of public health concern. The risk from these outbreaks depends on the characteristics of the virus, including how well it spreads between people, the severity of resulting illness, and the medical or other measures available to control the impact of the virus (for example, vaccine or treatment medications). The fact that this disease has caused illness, including illness resulting in death, and sustained person-to-person spread is concerning. These factors meet two of the criteria of a pandemic. As community spread is detected in more and more countries, the world moves closer toward meeting the third criteria, worldwide spread of the new virus.

Additional Resources:

How to Talk to Your Kids about Coronavirus:

 

BOE to Vote and Fill Board Vacancy Position on 2/11

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Date:                    Monday, February 10, 2020 @ 7pm

What:                   BOE Special Session Meeting – Candidate Interviews & Vote

Where:                District Meeting Room, 525 Academy Street, Maplewood, NJ

Who:                     Three-candidates will be interviewed by the BOE to fill the District’s vacant Board seat.  While four-candidates initially submitted letters of interest and resumes by the February 5, 2002 deadline; as per NJSA statute 18A:12-1, only three were qualified to move forward in the interview process.

The final candidates for the vacancy position are:

  • Sharon Tanenbaum Kraus
  • Kamal Zubieta
  • Susan Lewis Bergin

Interviews with candidates for the board vacancy will be conducted in public on Monday, February 10, 2020 beginning at 7:00 p.m. All applicants will be provided the opportunity to make a brief five-minute statement that elaborates on the letter and resume, reasons for wanting to serve, qualifications, and areas of priority. The board will follow-up with any questions. After all statements and questions are concluded, the board will adjourn to executive session to deliberate. After returning from executive session, the board will make nominations to fill the position and then vote to appoint one of the candidates. The candidate with a majority of the members of the Board present will immediately take the oath of office and be seated

SOMSD Coranavirus Update & Resources

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Guidance and Resources Regarding the Coronavirus

With rising concern over the new coronavirus outbreak that is currently centered in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, the South Orange & Maplewood School District continues to carefully monitor the situation and heed guidance that has been provided by the New Jersey Department of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization and the NJ Department of Education.

Although this virus is understandably a cause for concern, it is important for New Jersey residents to know that the risk to the general public still remains low.  For our District, if a student has recently traveled to Wuhan, China (within the past two-weeks) or has been in close contact with others who recently traveled to Wuhan, China, our District physician is recommending that the student stay home for two weeks before returning to school.  Therefore, if

any student returns from China, their parent/guardian should call their health care provider (even if symptoms do not currently exist) for a consult and then contact their school nurse.

If a student/parent and/or guardian has symptoms, they should call a healthcare provider immediately and inform them of the close contact with the coronavirus before going into a healthcare provider’s office.

Please take a moment to read and access the following important references regarding the Coronavirus:

The NJDOH recommends that everyone follow the steps below to help prevent the transmission of respiratory infections:

  • Washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
  • Avoiding touching eyes, nose and mouth
  • Avoiding close contact with people who are sick
  • Staying home when sick and avoiding close contact with others
  • Covering mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing and throwing away tissues
  • Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces

The safety and health of our SOMSD students and staff is a priority and we will keep you updated as needed.

* NJDOH:  These guidance documents apply to travelers arriving back to the U.S. before February 2, 2020, at 5 pm. New screening and management protocols might take effect on February 2, 2020, at 5 pm. Additional guidance will be made available for those who arrive after this date and time.

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