The entire Jackson School
District is going all-remote through Dec. 16 after district officials say
buildings can't be fully operated due to new positive cases and quarantines.
According to a message posted
on the school district’s
website, the move is necessary because the newest
positive cases and mandated quarantines reported today have brought them
to the point where they cannot properly operate their buildings and
departments.
The number of quarantined teachers
also makes it impossible to continue in-person learning. Part of message says,
“We are acutely aware of the hardship this presents to our families and we hope
you can appreciate that we would not have made this change if it weren't
absolutely necessary.”
The closure comes as schools
across New Jersey saw an uptick in outbreaks, meaning at least two people were
infected through the school. There has now been a total of 70 outbreaks and 285
cases, according to updated numbers from Wednesday’s COVID-19 dashboard.
But this does not mean the
spread took place inside Jackson Township schools. The Ocean County Health
Department repeatedly has said most cases occur from outside school settings, but
still require proper quarantine measures.
Gov. Phil Murphy praised the
efforts by all school districts during the press briefing and said the number
of outbreaks in schools is lower than what state health experts had
anticipated.
Jackson schools are scheduled
to reopen on Dec. 17.