August 18, 2021

Dear School Community Member:

Good afternoon. I hope this note finds you enjoying the last weeks of summer. I know the Gamper family has made the most of the summer recess and enjoyed our time together with family and friends.

The Park Ridge School District has been busy since the end of June, both with capital improvements to our facilities and planning for the opening of schools on September 1st. The last four bathrooms at the high school have been completely renovated, the asbestos abatement in the elementary hallway ceilings has been completed and the hallway ceilings and lighting at all schools has been replaced. Needless to say, our students and staff will be greeted by a much brighter school buildings upon their return.

Regarding COVID-19, the recent surge of cases due to the Delta variant has certainly been a cause for concern as the school year approaches. However, I am confident that we can experience a relatively normal opening of school, while still maintaining some of the health and safety protocols that were in place at the end of last year. To that end, please be advised of the following:

• Schedule - All schools will provide in-person instruction, while following a full-day schedule. Per the Governor, a remote instruction option will not be available during this school year.

• Masks - On Friday Aug 6, 2021, Governor Murphy signed Executive Order 251 and announced a mask mandate for all students, staff members and visitors in a K-12 school. Masks must be worn while inside a building and on all school transportation. Masks and/or face coverings will remain optional for all students, staff and visitors outside of school including, during drop-off/pick-up, lunch/recess, athletic events and PE classes. 

• Vaccinations - There is no requirement for the vaccination of students or staff by either the State of New Jersey or the Park Ridge School District. Parents are encouraged to share their child's (12 years and older) vaccination status with the school nurse when schools open in September. Please keep in mind that a vaccinated individual or someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 within 90 days, does not need to quarantine if they are exposed to a COVID-19 positive person and remain asymptomatic. This will help to keep students in the classroom, participating in extra-curricular activities and practicing/competing with their teammates.

• Screening - Included in the online documents that all parents must complete, the district has included a health screening form that assures us that parents will not send a child to school who is exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19. This form will be completed once at the beginning of the school year. Please be advised that the district will no longer conduct daily temperature scans or require staff members to complete daily health screening forms.

• Social Distancing - The district will maintain 3 feet of distance between students during the school day or to the greatest extent possible. A parent or student may request the use of a desk shield in the classroom. If you are interested, please contact your school principal.

• Close Contacts - Per current CDC protocols, close contact is defined as being within 6 feet of someone with suspected or known COVID-19 for 15 or more minutes during a 24-hour period. Exception: However, in the K-12 classroom setting, the close contact definition excludes students who were within 3 to 6 feet of an infected student (laboratory confirmed or clinically compatible illness) if both the infected student and the exposed student(s) correctly and consistently wore well-fitting masks the entire time. This exception does not apply to teachers, staff, or other adults in the indoor classroom setting. Note: Whether or not this exception applies will be determined by the school nurse, administration and classroom teacher.

• Contact Tracing - All contact tracing during the school year will be conducted by the school nurse, in conjunction with the administration and parents. Any student or staff member who needs to quarantine after contact tracing is completed will be notified by the school nurse and/or building administration.

The district has prepared a 2021-22 School Reopening FAQ which contains more detailed information on the topics above, along with other information that might be of interest to you. Please click HERE to view the FAQ.

In closing, I hope everyone enjoys the last weeks of August. On behalf of the Park Ridge Board of Education, and all faculty and staff, we look forward to welcoming the school community back to the district on September 1st.

Sincerely,

Robert M. Gamper, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools