SOUTH BRUNSWICK, N. J. — The South Brunswick School District has moved Crossroads North sixth-graders online amid a surge in COVID-19 cases among students.
Students will be informed remotely from Thursday through October 20. During this time, they will also be excluded from all in-person sports, clubs, and extracurricular activities. Crossroads North has a total of 315 sixth graders.
In a letter to parents and guardians Wednesday, the school’s principal, Scott Feder, said the resolution to transfer to virtual learning was made “in the most productive interest” of students.
“We’ve been tracking an increase in the number of sixth-graders testing positive at Crossroads North High School and while it turns out it’s slowing down, between today and today we’ve noticed a slight resurgence,” Feder said. Instead of guessing and hoping this will end on its own, we believe taking this week will go a long way in keeping our students and staff safe. “
According to school district data, the surge in COVID-19 cases began Oct. 1 and on Wednesday, 15 sixth-graders tested positive. Prior to Oct. 1, only two positive cases had been reported among students in this class.
After seeking advice from the Ministry of Health, the district deemed it had “reached a tipping point. “Although academics attending remotely will not miss training and are expected to return on Oct. 21, “if knowledge continues to come in, it seems in our students’ best interest to remain closed for a longer period, but this is not our intention,” Feder said.
While there is interaction between seventh and eighth graders on the bus and in other usual spaces, the district said it is not seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases in those classrooms. “This, coupled with the higher vaccination rate of our eligible 7th and 8th graders, leads us to see no desire to close those classes,” Feder said.
Meanwhile, COVID-19 outbreaks in school districts across the state continue to rise. Last week, 69 COVID-19 outbreaks were reported since the start of the school year.
On Wednesday, October 13, New Jersey reported 27 new COVID-19 outbreaks during the week.
From Oct. 5 to Oct. 11, there were 27 new COVID-19 outbreaks in New Jersey schools, affecting 12, five students and 17 staff members, Gov. Phil Murphy said.
Read here:
69 COVID outbreaks reported in New Jersey since September
New Jersey schools are experiencing 27 new COVID outbreaks in the past week
Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said 70. 1 percent of 16- and 17-year-olds had received at least the first dose of the vaccine. However, only 57. 1 percent of 12- to 15-year-olds are vaccinated. ” said Persichilli.
The vaccine is expected to be available soon for the younger population. The FDA is expected to approve the vaccine for youth as early as Halloween or early November.
Read more: New Jersey prepares for COVID vaccine distribution to children: White House
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