Scotch Plains-Fanwood Schools Adjust Schedule Due To COVID Surge

SCOTCH PLAINS-FANWOOD, NJ — The Scotch Plains-Fanwood SPFK12 school district announced it will implement single session days for students returning to school — from Jan. 3 to 5 — to reduce the spread of COVID-19 among students and staff.

This announcement comes as a response to the school district experiencing the highest number of positive COVID-19 cases they have seen this school year, according to Superintendent Dr. Joan Mast's letter that was sent to parents on Wednesday, Dec. 29.

"Leading up to the winter break, this steep increase resulted in a considerable number of quarantines and high absenteeism among both students and staff," Mast wrote.

Mast said these single session days will allow time to assess the status of COVID-19 by allowing the school nurses to perform contact tracing. This schedule will also support a safe reopening by reducing the amount of time that students are around each other, according to the letter.

Mast added that any further changes to the schedule would be made in conjunction with the Department of Health and only after careful consideration.

The district urges students and staff to continue to report positive cases and exposures via the following links:

Student COVID-19 Reporting Form

Staff COVID-19 Reporting Form

Mast said the district also encourages students and staff — regardless of vaccination status — to get tested for COVID-19 before returning to school in January.

On Sunday, January 2, 2022, the district will offer free COVID-19 saliva testing for students and staff. Testing will take place at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School and Coles Elementary School from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. and will be administered by representatives from Mirimus. There will be no scheduled appointment times.

Students and staff must complete the Mirimus Online Consent form at spfk12.org in order to be tested.

In terms of the option for remote instruction, Mast wrote that the Governor's Executive Order currently does not allow for a remote instruction option, and the district will only implement this if the Department of Health declares a public health emergency that requires a school or the district to shut down for three consecutive days or more.

However, the district will continue to provide remote learning for students who are required to isolate or quarantine.

Mast also said parents should not send their children to school if they are experiencing any symptoms to prevent possible exposure.

Visit the district's website for more information and announcements.

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