Schools

COVID Surge Forces Westfield High School To Go Virtual Monday

Due to a surge in reported positive COVID cases over the weekend and staffing shortages, Westfield High School will go virtual on Monday.

WESTFIELD, NJ — Because of a surge in reported positive COVID-19 cases among staff and students across the Westfield school district, Superintendent Raymond González announced Westfield High School will transition to virtual instruction on Monday, Jan. 3.

In a letter sent to the school community on Sunday, González said staffing shortages associated with reported COVID cases informed the decision to transition Westfield High School to remote learning on Monday.

The district had already announced the week prior that the first week back from winter break — Jan. 3 to Jan. 7 — would be early dismissal days. González said all others schools, besides WHS, will remain on the half-day schedule with in-person instruction in the morning and an hour of remote instructional support in the afternoon.

Find out what's happening in Westfieldfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Information regarding athletics and after school programs will be determined on Monday, according to the letter.

González said the district will reassess the status of all the schools on Monday and update the community of any changes going forward.

Find out what's happening in Westfieldfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

"I know this is not ideal," González wrote. "However, this is an ever-changing situation that, even as we strive to safely keep our schools open, often requires up-to-the-minute decisions based on current conditions."

More updates from Westfield Public Schools can be found on the district website.

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