The Hoboken Board of Education will use remote learning for three days next week due to a new COVID-19 testing plan, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Christine Johnson said in an email this afternoon.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“As you know, our district provided rapid test kits to all students and staff before the break. All students and staff were asked to use these tests prior to returning to work or school.
Based on the positive case numbers in our area, we will be shifting to the administration of PCR tests, as opposed to rapid tests, prior to returning to school,” Johnson wrote to parents and guardians.
“As a result, our district will be on a remote teaching and learning schedule on Monday, January 3rd, Tuesday, January 4th and Wednesday, January 5th. This will provide us with adequate time for both testing and receiving results. We will reopen for onsite learning on Thursday, January 6th.”
In an interview with HCV last week, Johnson detailed the district’s upcoming students testing measures during the recent surge, which included an at home rapid test to be taken before they return to school on Monday – followed by random groups being PCR tested on Monday and Friday.
Her email today provided further information about how the new testing plan will be administered.
“I am happy to announce that Medicine Man has partnered with us and has arranged for onsite testing on Monday, January 3rd at the Wallace School Gym from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Tuesday, January 4th at the High School Gym from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.,” she wrote.
“Over the weekend, appointments will be sent to the PK-12 community (vaccinated and unvaccinated) by school principals and the Office of Early Childhood for PCR testing in order to safely return. Our goal is to obtain the most accurate data before reopening. Be on the lookout for an email from your principal or clerk from the school. This is not a drop in clinic. As a result, you must take your child at their scheduled appointment time.”
Furthermore, students that have tested positive in the past 90 days, he or she will not have to submit to testing.
Additionally, students have the option to be tested outside of the district as long as it’s on Monday or Tuesday or next week, with results sent to the student’s principal or nurse.
“I know that this message may come as a relief to some and as a potential inconvenience to others. However, please note that this is the best way to ensure that we are opening our school buildings without any unknown positive cases. Thank you as always for your patience and understanding,” she concluded.
The Bayonne, East Newark, Harrison, Kearny, North Bergen, Union City, Weehawken, and West New York Public Schools have all publicly announced they’ll be going remote for the entirety of next week.
Conversely, the Jersey City Public Schools and Hudson County Schools of Technology are still planning for in-person sessions as of this writing.
On January 25th VOTE NO
Vote NO! on January 25th.