Ocean City School District will be open Monday, March 16 with an early dismissal for students. The district will be closed to students as directed by the Cape May County Health Department beginning March 17 up until Monday, March 30.
Details about the closing are included in the following two letters written by Schools Superintendent Dr. Kathleen Taylor and the Cape May County Health Department:
Dear School Community:
The health, safety, and welfare of our students, families, and community are at the forefront of this decision-making as we continue to respond to this current health emergency.
The closure is a non-pharmaceutical intervention (social distancing). Our school is and continues to be clean and safe for our students.
We have had ongoing communication with the New Jersey Departments of Health and Education as well as closely monitored the press conference held by Governor Murphy on Friday, March 13, 2020.
In addition, we have contacted and consulted with the Cape May County Department of Health regarding the effects and impact of COVID-19 in our County and communities.
Even though at this time, there are no confirmed cases in Cape May County, we are acting with an abundance of caution to address the spread of COVID-19 and to help protect and support our students, families, and communities during this national emergency.
Please, rest assured, that this decision was not taken lightly, and we understand the impact this has on families, which is why the Cape May County School Districts have come together to close our schools starting Tuesday, March 17.
Students and parents have received and will continue to receive more information about our plans for remote instructional continuity and food distribution for eligible families in our food service programs, as mandated by the NJDOE.
We will continue to monitor the information available and any details that may require a longer closure if recommended.
We will coordinate with our community throughout the closure and will provide updates and information specific to the firm date for the School District’s reopening.
Please be sure to check our website for updates and please log on to your PowerSchool account for additional information regarding your child’s academic program and progress.
If your child leaves an item in school and needs to be retrieved during closure, please email the principal of your child’s school or call that school’s main office and leave a message. The school will coordinator with you for item retrieval.
We care deeply about our school community. Although a difficult decision to close school, we are coordinating with the City of Ocean City and Cape May County Health Department to act in the best interests of our children and community.
Sincerely,
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kathleen Taylor
JOINT COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND SCHOOL DISTRICT RESPONSE
The health, safety and welfare of Cape May County's students, families, and communities are at the forefront of our decision-making as we continue to respond to this current health emergency.
We have contacted and consulted with the New Jersey Department of Health, and the President of Cape May County Association of School Administrators regarding the effects and impact of COVID-19 in our County and communities.
As a result, the following decision is made out of an abundance of caution to address the spread of COVID-19 and to help protect and support our students, families, and communities during this National Emergency,
The School Districts of Cape May County are closing for students for 14 calendar days beginning Tuesday, March 17 until Monday, March 30.
We continue to monitor the information available and any details that may require a longer closure than currently planned.
We will coordinate with our communities throughout the closure and will provide updates and information specific to the firm date for schools reopening.
Please be sure to check with your districts' websites, social media feeds, and community outreach platforms for additional details.
Please rest assured that this decision was not taken tightly, and we understand the impact this has on families which is why our Districts have come together to issue this joint statement regarding closing our schools.
According to the school superintendents, students and parents will continue to receive more information about individual district plans for instructional continuity and food distribution for eligible families in our food service programs, as mandated by the NJDOE.
Again, the purpose of closing schools is to decrease contact among children, to minimize their risk of getting sick and to limit the spread of infection*
Although a difficult decision, it is the best decision for our children, staff, and communities, The Heath Department will keep school officials updated as the situation changes.
