HPS Covid-19 Update - January 18, 2022

Dear Hackensack Public Schools Community:

First and foremost, I hope this letter finds you and your family healthy and safe.  Last week, the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) updated its recommended COVID-19 Public Health Recommendations for Local Health Departments for K-12 Schools.  As per Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli, "Based on the latest science and data—that demonstrates transmission occurs early on in the course of illness—new isolation and quarantine recommendations have been developed to address the spread of COVID-19."   The latest recommendations reduce isolation and quarantine for (asymptomatic infected and mildly ill) students and staff to 5 days. We have been working collaboratively with our health department and decided that we are not reducing our quarantine period at this time due to the high rate of transmission within the community.  We will, however, continue to reevaluate this decision on a weekly basis and provide further guidance if any changes are warranted.  

We, at Hackensack Public Schools, would like nothing more than to get students and staff back in school sooner rather than later after being diagnosed with COVID-19 and/or being considered a close contact.  We realize the stress of these situations and how they affect the community which is why we have decided to be more stringent than the current quarantine guidance for the time being to keep our staff and students safe.

As we move forward, we will continue to keep open lines of communication with our local health officials to ensure the safest possible environment for our entire school community.   Here are our latest guidelines and protocols for extracurricular activities that will be reevaluated weekly while we remain in the “red” “very high risk” CALI category on the NJDOH’s  COVID-19 Activity Level Index (CALI). 

The District will:

• Continue to adhere to the mask mandate at all events inside our schools 

• For athletics, everyone not actively participating must wear a mask (inclusive of coaches and athletes on the bench)

• Practice social distancing, wherever possible

• Remind participants to stay home when sick

• Offer onsite COVID-19 testing for those participants who choose to get tested

• Limit spectator attendance to 25% of the indoor venue.  Family units will be asked to sit together at events. 

• Concession stands will be closed.  No food or drink will be permitted at events while indoors  

Thank you for your continued patience and support as we navigate the ongoing challenges of the pandemic.

Sincerely,

Robert Sanchez

Superintendent of Schools