Howell Township Schools Announce Update On COVID-19 Guidelines

HOWELL, NJ — The duration of mask breaks will be limited in Howell Township Public Schools in order to avoid exposure and keep kids in school, according to an update on COVID-19 protocols shared by the district.

Students who need extra time will be allowed to have additional time in a physically distanced location.

"Due to the configuration of the classrooms, duration of breaks, and increase in positive cases we have noticed an increased number of students requiring exclusion," the document shared by the district read.

Whenever the community transmission level is high those who have close contact with someone who is COVID positive will be excluded from school for at least two weeks starting on the date of the exposure.

Close contacts are defined as being within 6 feet of someone with suspected or known COVID-19 for 15 or more minutes during a 24-hour period. The rule excludes students who are in the classroom within three to six feet when both the infected and exposed students were wearing well-fitting masks the whole time.

Students who are excluded from school will be placed in a remote class with a certified teacher. Each grade will have district instructional coaches assigned to support the students.

"We are confident that a majority of the remote learning needs will be met with this program," the letter said. "However, please note that, in limited circumstances, the number of excluded students in an individual classroom may necessitate the implementation of a hybrid structure for that specific classroom."

The full letter is available here.