Health Services

On June 24, 2020, Governor Murphy announced that absent any changes in public health data in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, New Jersey Public Schools will be allowed to reopen for in-person instruction in September 2020. Shortly after that, the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) released guidance for doing so in a 104-page document entitled: The Road Back Restart and Recovery Plan for Education.  As required in this plan, as well as the Executive Summary that accompanied it, in order to ensure a safe and equitable opening of schools for in-person instruction for all students and staff, school districts would have to produce a Restart of Schools Plan that effectively addresses the “minimum standards” in the following specified “key subject areas” and must share with their communities said plan four weeks before the start of the 2020-21 school year, as defined by each school district’s approved school year calendar.

• Leadership for Planning
• Policy and Funding
• Conditions for Learning
• Continuity of Learning

On July 21, 2020, Governor Murphy clarified the ambiguous language in the Road Back manual pertaining to the option for parents/guardians to elect for their child(ren) to participate in fulltime virtual instruction rather than in the in-person instructional plans developed and outlined in each individual school district’s Restart Plan. On July 24, 2020, the NJDOE released clarifying guidance pertaining to this in an addendum to the Road Back entitled: Clarifying Expectations Regarding Fulltime Remote Learning Options for Families in 2020-21.” Along with this information, school districts also learned from their county DOE offices that preliminary approval of Restart Plans by the executive county superintendent was required before being allowed to share it with their community and that such would be contingent upon the plan meeting the expectation outlined in a checklist that was currently being developed by the NJDOE. As of the date of this report, no such checklist has been shared with districts.

Hence, the following is the Restart of School Plan developed for the Sayreville Public Schools. The plan was developed collaboratively by the Sayreville Pandemic Response Team in conjunction with the feedback provided by the Sayreville Administrator Association, Sayreville Education Association, and the Sayreville Board of Education, along with the survey response data submitted by stakeholders in the community and collected from July 10, 2020 – July 29, 2020. The plan was reviewed and revised one last time by the Pandemic Response Team on July 29, 2020 before being submitted to the NJDOE and Sayreville BOE for preliminary approval on July 30, 2020. Soon after this plan is approved by the NJDOE and shared with the community, each school will then assemble a site-based School Restart Committee and convene meetings for the purpose of developing individual School Restart Plans that are in alignment with this plan. Finally, the Sayreville Board of Education will formally approve this plan and authorize its implementation during the August 25, 2020 BOE Business Meeting.

ARP-ESSER Grant Plan for Use of Funds
Emergency Virtual Instruction Plan
Safe Return Plan
Restart of School Survey Link
Restart of School Survey Responses
Sayreville Public Schools Restart of School Plan
Sayreville Public Schools Restart of School Plan Video Presentation
Sayreville Public Schools Restart of School Plan Power Point Presentation
Sayreville Public Schools Restart of School Plan FAQs
NJDOE School Reopening FAQs

Pandemic is defined as a disease affecting or attacking the population of an extensive region, including several countries, and/or continent(s). Pandemics occur when a new virus, such as Influenza or the new Corona Virus or COVID-19, emerge for which people have little or no immunity, and for which there is no vaccine. The disease spreads easily person-to-person, causes serious illness, and can sweep across the country and around the world in very short period of time. There is no pandemic at this time. 

The response to, and mitigation of the health and social consequences of a pandemic will take place at both the state and local levels, with the New Jersey Department of Health assuming the lead for the public health response.  Based on studies of past pandemics, the most effective approach seemed to be when actions were taken early and quickly.  Cities and jurisdictions that responded faster and with more layered protective measures fared better. 

 In order to rapidly respond to just about any crisis situations, all Sayreville Public Schools have updated Emergency Crisis Management Plans. Such plans encompass all hazards, including pandemics. The following Sayreville Schools Pandemic Management Plan is an addendum to the districts’ Emergency Crisis Management Plan. It is purposefully designed to be a plan with specific steps to address the unique challenges that could rapidly unfold if a pandemic were to afflict a school, the district, county or state. 

These include: 

1. Planning, coordination, and evaluation.
2. Continuity of student learning and core operations.
3. Infection control policies and procedures.
4. Identification of legal authorities and communications planning.

• Sayreville Public Schools Pandemic Plan (English)  / (Spanish)
• School Health-Related Closure Preparedness Plan
• Lunch and Breakfast Ordering Form
• Locations for Lunch/Breakfast, Work Packets, and Device Pick-Up
• Designated Stops Estimated Times of Arrival
• Technology Loan Approval Request Form
• CloudReady Home Edition (Convert Old PCs to Chrome Devices. Independent Service not affiliated with or supported by Sayreville Public Schools)
• Pandemic Supplies Request
• Sayreville Public Schools Nursing Newsletters
• Distance Learning Information and Update
• Distance Learning Information and Update Spanish
• Important Message from Middlesex County Department of Health
• NJDoH LINCS Talking Points

Coronavirus (COVID-19)                                                                                   

According to the New Jersey Department of Health Memo (3/2/2020), a Coronavirus pandemic occurs when a new Coronavirus emerges for which people have little or no immunity and for which there is no vaccine. The disease spreads easily from person to person, causes serious illness, and can sweep across the country and around the world in a short time. Coronaviruses are actually quite common and are a frequent cause of respiratory illnesses such as the common cold. They tend to circulate in the fall and winter months. COVID-19 is a new or “novel” Coronavirus which was first identified in 2019 in China and is now infecting people for the first time (which means that people do not have immunity to it). The typical symptoms include cough, fever and shortness of breath. There is no vaccine to prevent COVID-19 at this time.

 It is not completely clear how COVID-19 is spread person-to-person, but with most respiratory viruses, people are most contagious when they are the sickest. Although there has been some person-to-person spread in the United States, the risk to the general public remains low. In addition, most people who contract the virus will have mild or no symptoms. However, those who are elderly or have compromised immune systems, are the most vulnerable to severe symptoms.

 As noted previously, the response to and mitigation of the health and social consequences of a COVID-19 pandemic will take place at both state and local levels with the New Jersey Department of Health assuming the lead for the public health response. Based on studies of past pandemics, the most effective approach seems to be when actions were taken early and quickly. The New Jersey Department of Education will also provide guidance regarding school response in the case of a pandemic. To prepare for possible community transmission of COVID-19, the most important thing for schools to do is plan and prepare. Essentially, it is recommended that public schools:

• Develop or revise an outbreak response/pandemic plan and share with stakeholders before an outbreak occurs.
• Establish procedures to ensure that students and staff who become sick at school or arrive to school sick, are sent home as soon as possible.
• Prepare for the potential of school closures or cancellation of school events.
• Prepare to offer home instruction to students.
• Implement flexible attendance and sick leave policies.
• Establish relationships with local public health officials and identify points of contact.
• Create emergency communication plan and maintain up to date contact information for everyone in your communication chain.
• Establish leadership team, identify essential staff functions, assign tasks and responsibilities.
• Provide information to educate staff, students, and parents on prevention measures.
• Monitor current information from health officials.

It is not recommended that schools screen all students or staff to identify cases of COVID-19. However, if a student or staff member presents with symptoms (fever, cough, or difficulty breathing), they should be placed away from others until they can be sent home. Likewise, staff members should be sent home and advised to seek medical advice. Finally, schools must notify their local health department with any questions or concerns about an ill student.

• See more information on the Coronavirus (COVID)