Cherry Hill Plan To Stay In Person In 2022: Superintendent

CHERRY HILL, NJ — When classes resume in the Cherry Hill Public School District Monday after winter break, students and staff members will be in the buildings, as they were before the holiday.

Cherry Hill Superintendent of Schools Joseph Meloche said there were no plans for the district to shift to fully remote instruction — a move some districts in New Jersey have made because of a surge in coronavirus cases in the weeks leading up to the break.

“We received communication from the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH), reiterating the Department’s guidance for high COVID-19 activity levels, updated isolation and quarantine timeframes, contact information and references and resources,” Meloche said in a letter to the community. “We understand the significant impact on the community when schools are closed. We also must follow any state mandates regarding how we operate. We will notify the community immediately if the governor announces a change from full in-person learning.”

Meloche said the district has a plan should the district need to pivot to a remote learning environment. That plan is detailed on page 31 of "The Road Forward - Continuity of Learning Guide 2021-2022."

CDC guidelines for quarantine have changed, and state Department of Health had changed quarantine rules for schools earlier in December. Students and staff members who are identified as closes contact of someone who tests positive for COVID-19 only are required to quarantine if they are not vaccinated, according to the recent change by the state Department of Health in its guidelines for student and staff quarantines.

Those who are fully vaccinated or who have had COVID-19 and recovered from it within the last 90 days do not have to quarantine, under the new guidelines. Those who are required to quarantine can return to school after seven days if a COVID-19 PCR test at the fifth day or beyond comes back negative for the virus. Without testing, unvaccinated students or staff must wait 10 days in quarantine.

The CDC on Monday reduced quarantines to five days from 10, but how quickly that will filter down to the state health officials and from there to schools is unclear.

“The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) has told us that until the NJDOH updates school specific guidance, it is recommended that K-12 schools continue to follow conventional isolation and quarantine timeframes (10-day isolation/exclusion; 7 or 10-day quarantine/exclusion with and without negative testing). Watch for updates as guidance may change in the near future,” Meloche said. “We are ready to reopen our buildings and will continue to practice the multiple health and safety protocols that have been in place since the beginning of the school year. When school resumes, please remember: if your children are exhibiting symptoms and/or if they have been tested for COVID-19 and are awaiting results, keep them at home. Questions regarding quarantine should be directed to your school's nurse.”