South Brunswick Schools To Close Early To Prepare For Coronavirus

SOUTH BRUNSWICK – South Brunswick schools will close early on Monday to prepare for any potential future impact of the coronavirus.

If any future closings happen because of the coronavirus, parents and children will learn more specifics from schools and teachers, the district said.

"We are also planning to use this time for additional disinfecting of all of our buildings and school buses. The after-school program will operate as it normally does on an early release day on Monday."

Two additional presumptive positive cases of the new coronavirus have been identified in New Jersey, bringing the state's total to six, state officials announced on Sunday. Investigations were also underway for potential cases in nine counties, including Middlesex.

Read more: 6 NJ Presumptive Positive Coronavirus Cases; Probes in 9 Counties

South Brunswick officials said they closely monitoring the situation and taking guidance from the New Jersey Department of Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The district said there is currently no recommendation to close schools in the area. However, the district has been asked by the Department of Education to act with a precautionary set of protocols and to develop a plan should it become necessary.

"It is important to be prepared and doing so does not correlate to increased concern, but not being prepared is simply irresponsible and we will always err on the side of caution over irresponsibility," the district said.

"Plus, we hope that having plans like this in place will one day be considered an alternative to snow days."

The district will have an early release day on Monday "so that we can develop strong and meaningful plans for your children."

"As always, the students and staff of South Brunswick are our number one priority and we want to do what is right for our students and be prepared should a school dismissal become necessary," the district said.