Back To School: What To Expect In Howell With COVID-19 Spike

HOWELL, NJ — As COVID-19 numbers spike around the country and in New Jersey in particular, some school districts have made the choice to opt for virtual learning.

Students from Howell Township Schools will continue to go to class as per the most recent guidelines from the district. Freehold Regional High School District superintendent Dr. Charles Sampson also announced that schools would open as normal after winter break.

While the Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced it would cut the recommended time for isolation in half and shorten quarantine, Howell Township Public Schools announced that those guidelines did not apply to the learning setting just yet.

"The CDC has recently updated their guidance relative to quarantines and isolation. The New Jersey Department of Health has notified us that this guidance is meant for the general public and does not apply to the school setting. Therefore, there are no changes to the district exclusion practices at this time," the district announced in a statement to parents. "However, we are researching a “test to stay” protocol that will allow us to keep healthy students in school."

According to the most recent information released by the district, on Dec. 24, a total of 179 students in the district were excluded from schools and 77 were COVID-19 positive.

Here are the quarantine guidelines set by Howell Township Schools (as of Oct. 29):

Exposed close contacts who are not fully vaccinated will be excluded from
school for 10 days (or 7 days with negative test results collected at 5-7 days).
All asymptomatic individuals may return to school if they have produced a negative PCR
that has been collected no sooner than 5 days after the last exposure, and have already
been excluded for 7 days from the point of last exposure. All individuals who remain
asymptomatic, have not tested, and have been excluded from school for 10 days or more,
may also return to school.

Similarly, Freehold Regional will continue to follow the timeframe of 10 days of isolation for a COVID-19 positive and 10-day quarantine for unvaccinated close contacts or 7 days quarantine with a negative test.

As mandated by the state, there is an emergency contingency plan for virtual learning in case the decision to go back to remote learning is taken at a local or state level.

Here are some of the most important guidelines in Freehold Regional's Plan:

• Hours of Instruction - The Remote Instruction Program will be facilitated following a regular school day schedule.
• Food Service - Our Food Service Management Company (Pomptonian) will provide for the issuance of meals to eligible students with prepackaged, shelf-stable meals for students. Freehold Boro High School is also available for meal pick-up on Mondays and Thursdays between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.
• Facilities - The facilities are being maintained during the closure as per guidance issued by the CDC. Preparation for reopening, as well as maintaining safe facilities when students and staff return will also be guided in accordance with CDC standards.
• Technology - All students are issued Chromebooks and are given support with access to Wifi, as needed. Staff members have a district-issued laptop and charging device. Professional learning and support was provided for all FRHSD teachers to engage students in assignments and assessment in Google Classroom and Google Meet.
• Provisions for Addressing the Needs of English Language Learners - Announcements and notifications posted to the District website will be translated to the native language. Teachers will use Google Meets to monitor the students’ speaking, writing, listening, and reading skills.
• Provisions for Appropriate Special Education and Related Services for Students with Disabilities - Educational resources will be modified and accommodated to meet the needs of all students, as appropriate.
• Counseling Services Available to Students - Staff members will monitor email during the regularly scheduled school day to assist students and families. Students will have access to community mental health services as needed via FRHSD.com.

View the full remote instruction plan here.

Have a news tip, correction or comment? Email catarina.moura@patch.com.