Dear Mendham Borough School Community:
As you are aware our District has been proactive in following the CDC guidelines for the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus). We have been posting information and updates from our local Health Department, the Center for Disease Control and the New Jersey Department of Health on our District website.
Over the last few days, I was part of a conference call with Governor Murphy and New Jersey’s Commissioner of Education. I also participated on a conference call with the Director of Office of Emergency Management for Morris County that included local county officials. Today I hosted a meeting with the District Superintendents of Chester Public Schools, Mendham Township and Washington Township. As the President of the Morris County Superintendent Association, I am working closely with our Executive County Superintendent to facilitate the sharing of information among our colleagues. The consistent message is that we should continue the practices we have in place and develop a plan in the event schools need to close.
Last night we received guidance from the NJDOE that stated in part the following:
Any day in which students impacted by a public health-related closure have access to home instruction services provided consistent with the guidance in this memo will count as a day in which the board of education has provided public school facilities toward its compliance with the 180-day requirement in accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:7F-9. The provision of home instruction services should be guided by N.J.A.C. 6A:16-10.1 and may include direct services, online instruction, services provided through a contract with another district board of education, or any other means developed by the district to meet the needs of its students.
We are finalizing our virtual learning plan to continue delivering instruction to our students should a school closure be required by the Department of Health. This information will be shared with parents upon approval by the Executive County Superintendent.
As information and guidance could change quickly the district administration and school nurses are discussing upcoming trips, social and athletic events and will communicate any changes or cancellations as early as possible.
Please continue to visit the news section on the homepage of our District website for the most up to date information.
If you have any specific questions or concerns please reach out to your school principal, your school nurse or my office.
Sincerely,
Dr. Mitzi N. Morillo
Superintendent of Schools
Additional resources you may find helpful are:
https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/ncov.shtml
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-in-us.html