Messages from Victor Valeski 2020-2021 School Year

June 17, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with no updates.

Instead, I call you with thanks for your patience and understanding during this past school year. Tomorrow culminates our year with the graduation of our Class of 2021. If your child is among the Seniors assembling on Jay Doyle Field tomorrow morning, congratulations!

Finally, I want to offer my sincere gratitude for the partnership between our community and schools. As a result of the past year’s events, I think the relationship will be forever strengthened.

I wish you a safe and happy summer as you reconnect with family and friends. Thank you again for your support of East Brunswick Public Schools.

June 10, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with some impressive news!

I have no positive COVID cases or close contacts to report this week. This is my final COVID report for the 2020-21 school year.

Additionally, beginning tomorrow, Friday, June 11th through next Friday, June 18th, I will be implementing an indoor high heat and high humidity protocol.

Students and staff who occupy un-air conditioned, high heat and high humidity indoor spaces during the instructional day will have the option to remove their masks while in that space under the following conditions permitted in the Governor’s Executive Order 175, dated August 13th, 2020:

A mask inhibits the individual’s health,
The individual has trouble breathing or
The mask creates an unsafe condition in which to operate equipment or execute a task

Masks will continue to be required while occupying indoor air conditioned school spaces.

As always, parents and guardians have the option to require their children to wear masks in all circumstances.

June 7, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with an important update for our families.

Beginning tomorrow, Tuesday, June 8th, through the conclusion of our instructional day on Friday, June 18th, I will initiate our high heat protocol for wearing masks outdoors during the student instructional day while participating in the the following activities:

Recess
Physical Education Classes and
Other School Sponsored and School Led Outdoor Activities

During these activities masks will be optional outdoors for students and staff but social distancing must be maintained while masks are removed. Students and staff must wear masks upon reentry to their school buildings.

This mask option is in compliance with the Governor’s Executive Order 175, dated August 13, 2020, paragraph 2a and 2b, i.-x.

Parents and guardians may opt to have their children wear their masks outdoors.

If you have specific questions, please contact your child’s principal.

June 3, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools.

This has been a challenging school year for our EB students, their families, our teachers and administrators. I have been energized by the opportunity to participate in some face-to-face student recognition events and performances over the past few weeks. Our pandemic recovery is well underway!

I appreciate our community’s collective support during times when information disseminated to school districts about allowable next steps appeared inconsistent and complex. We have navigated turbulent times together but it is imperative that clear mandates affecting schools be coordinated among state agencies as we approach our schools’ return to full time instruction and operation in September 2021.

I have attached a letter sent to Governor Murphy, Acting Commissioner of the Department of Education and Commissioner of the Department of Health, representing the collective voice of the Middlesex County Association of School Administrators. We are asking to partner with state agencies and officials so the messaging regarding directives that guide our local decisions will be consistent among Middlesex school districts...for the benefit of our students, families and staff.

Now with your weekly COVID update:

For the period Friday, May 28th through today, Thursday, June 3rd, we have the following In-Person Learning Model positive cases, with associated close contact quarantines, to report:

1 student positive at Frost Elementary School with 8 associated close contacts

May 28, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with your weekly COVID update.

For the period Friday, May 21st through Thursday, May 27th, I have the following In-Person Learning Model positive cases, with no associated close contact quarantines, to report:

1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School

We also have the following positive cases with associated close contacts:

1 student positive at Irwin Elementary School with 4 associated close contacts
1 student positive at Churchill Junior High School with 6 associated close contacts
1 student presumed positive at Churchill Junior High School with 1 associated close contact

I know the ever changing rules that guide our recovery from the pandemic can be confusing and sometimes frustrating. I want everyone to know we continue to monitor directives on mask wearing, social distancing and allowable activities. As they change for schools we will change too. Currently, masks are still required while on or in school properties, during school hours, including recess.

I wish everyone a great and safe Memorial Day weekend!

May 21, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools...again.

If your child is 12 years of age or older and you would like to get them vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine, please fill out the form in the link below. Walmart is working with our District to arrange a vaccination clinic. The first dose clinic will be held on Thursday, May 27th, beginning at 3 PM and the second dose will be administered Thursday, June 17th, beginning at 3 PM.

Once you register your child through the below link, you will receive more information regarding your appointment time, school location and required documentation. A parent will be required to accompany their child to the appointment. All responses must be submitted no later than Monday, May 24th at 3 PM. We expect a limited number of vaccine appointments. We will allocate vaccine appointments on a first come, first serve basis.

Please fill out the survey at: https://forms.gle/hLmDyr1zFnQzKFyv6

May 21, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools.

We have some updates to our COVID protocols, effective today.

We have changed our quarantine to 10 days for any positive COVID, as well as any related close contacts. In addition, quarantine after travel is no longer required.

Students and staff who can provide evidence they are fully vaccinated will not be required to quarantine as close contacts.

One important note: If you are currently under a quarantine status as a positive COVID or close contact you must finish out your quarantine before returning to school.

In compliance with the Governor's Executive Order 175, it is mandatory that all visitors to schools, during the school day, continue to wear a mask for the remainder of this school year.

Masks are not required for outdoor extracurricular activities.

Thank you for everyone's diligence in following all our established protocols.

Now for our weekly COVID update:

For the period Friday, May 14th at noon through Thursday, May 20th, I have the following In-Person Learning Model positive cases, with no associated close contact quarantines, to report:

1 student positive at Memorial Elementary School
1 staff member positive at Memorial Elementary School

We also have the following positive cases with associated close contacts:

1 student positive at Frost Elementary School with 8 associated close contacts
1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School with 7 associated close contacts

May 14, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with your weekly COVID update.

For the period Friday, May 7th at noon through Thursday, May 13th, I have the following In-Person Learning Model positive cases, with no associated close contact quarantines, to report:

1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School
1 student positive at Churchill Junior High School
1 student positive at East Brunswick High School

We also have the following positive cases with associated close contacts:

1 student positive at Chittick Elementary School with 4 associated close contacts
1 student positive at Churchill Junior High School with 4 associated close contacts
1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 3 associated close contacts
1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 4 associated close contacts

May 7, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with your weekly COVID update.

For the period Friday, April 30th at noon through noon today, May 7th I have the following In-Person Learning Model positive cases, with no associated close contact quarantines, to report:

2 students positive at Churchill Junior High School

We also have the following positive cases with associated close contacts:

1 student positive at Warnsdorfer Elementary School with 1 associated close contact
1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School with 7 associated close contacts

Finally, we have 4 students, 100% in our Remote Learning Model, who have tested positive for COVID during this reporting period.

April 30, 2021

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools.

Next Tuesday, May 4th, from 7-9 PM, I will be hosting an interactive forum regarding grade restructuring, scheduled for September 2022, and the future of East Brunswick Public School facilities. Please visit our Restructuring Plan tile on the district website and review the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and our answers. It will be on the top left of the informational tiles on the homepage of our website. We may have already answered some of the questions you have.

Interested participants may join the Zoom meeting online at:

https://ebnet.zoom.us/

Meeting ID: 969 3782 3554

Passcode: 153576

This login information will also be in the Restructuring Plan tile.

We have been seeing positive COVID’s among individuals who believed they were suffering through seasonal allergies. Even if you think that your child may be suffering from allergy symptoms, PLEASE keep your child home and have them evaluated by your doctor for COVID before returning to school.

I know it can be frustrating for our families but we continue to follow the Middlesex County Department of Health guidelines for quarantine because they are specific to the current transmission rate in our County. At this time, we are still following their recommendation of a full 14 days of quarantine regardless of a negative COVID test. As transmission rates improve, we may have the opportunity to modify the length of our quarantines.

Now for our weekly COVID Update:

For the period Friday, April 23rd at noon through noon today, April 30th, I have the following In-Person Learning Model positive cases, with no associated close contact quarantines, to report:

1 student positive at Central Elementary School
2 staff members positive at Irwin Elementary School
1 student presumed positive at Hammarskjold Middle School
1 staff member positive at Hammarskjold Middle School
2 staff members positive at East Brunswick High School

We also have the following positive cases with associated close contacts:

1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 2 associated close contacts
1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 1 associated close contact
1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 12 associated close contacts

Finally, we have 5 students, 100% in our Remote Learning Model, who have tested positive for COVID during this reporting period.

April 23, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools. Do not delete this message because I have important vaccination availability and COVID updates to share.

We were contacted this morning by Walgreens, located at 421 Ryders Lane. They have a limited number of Moderna, 1st dose, vaccine appointments available today only.

If you are interested in receiving a vaccine, please contact Walgreens at 732-254-6609, request the front of the store and ask for Colleen by 3 pm this afternoon.

For the period Friday, April 16th at noon through noon today, April 23rd, I have the following Hybrid Learning Model positive cases, with no associated close contact quarantines, to report:

2 students positive at Warnsdorfer Elementary School
1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School
3 students positive at Churchill Junior High School
1 staff member positive at East Brunswick High School

We also have the following positive cases with associated close contacts:

1 student positive at Memorial Elementary School with 1 associated close contact
1 staff member positive at Hammarskjold Middle School with 2 associated close contacts
1 student positive at Churchill Junior High School with 5 associated close contacts
1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 4 associated close contacts

Finally, we have 4 students, 100% in our Remote Learning Model, who have tested positive for COVID during this reporting period.

April 20, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community.

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with a brief transportation update. If your children do not ride our buses, I will not be offended if you stop listening now.

For those families with children on our buses:

We are decreasing student social distancing on buses so we can accommodate all the students who have returned to 5 day a week instruction. It is imperative that students properly wear their masks while being transported on our buses.

From time to time, you will see fully qualified substitute drivers on our routes. Safety is always our top priority - every day. I am committing our entire organization to ensure we communicate with you immediately if we anticipate any delay in your child’s transportation schedule.

Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding as we welcome students back to their classrooms this week. It has been great to see them!

April 16, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools with your weekly COVID update:

For the period Friday, April 9th at noon through noon today, April 16th, I have the following Hybrid Learning Model positive cases, with no associated close contact quarantines, to report:

1 staff member positive at Central Elementary School
1 staff member positive at Chittick Elementary School
1 student positive at Memorial Elementary School
1 student positive at Churchill Junior High School
1 staff member positive at Churchill Junior High School
1 staff member positive at Support Operations
1 staff member positive at the Administration Building

We also have the following positive cases with associated close contacts:

1 student positive at Chittick Elementary School with 3 associated close contacts
1 staff member positive at Frost Elementary School with 9 associated close contacts

Finally, we have 14 students, 100% in our Remote Learning Model, who have tested positive for COVID during this reporting period.

Have a safe and relaxing weekend.

April 15, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools with a few non-COVID updates.

I wanted to remind the entire EB school community that beginning Monday, April 19th, we will be returning PreK-12 students to school five days a week for single session days, for those families who selected it.

Although we will be continuing on a single-session schedule, after care is available at a discounted rate at all elementary schools and Hammarskjold Middle School from dismissal until 6 PM, five days per week. Information regarding these programs can be found at www.ebnet.org/ost.

As we implement this important change, I need to restate that students and staff must stay out of schools if they or anyone in their immediate families is experiencing COVID symptoms. Likewise, if you or anyone in your household has been tested for COVID, stay out of school until a lab confirmed negative test result is received and shared with your school’s nurse. I look forward to welcoming students back to school five days a week.

Last week we gave a public presentation about our proposed grade restructuring to address projected elementary enrollment growth from resales of existing East Brunswick homes. Beginning September 2022, over 16 months from now, we have proposed changing elementary schools to grades PreK-4, Hammarskjold Middle School to grades 5-6 and adding temporary classrooms, as a modular structure, behind Churchill Junior High School to accommodate grades 7-8-9. Again, this change is proposed for September 2022.

We are working on an informational tile that will reside on the home page of our website where you currently see other relevant information and resources. It will also contain Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) regarding our proposed grade restructuring.

As we return to full days of instruction in September 2021, I will be scheduling a series of face-to-face community forums at different schools in the district, throughout the school year, to share further details about our plan and its implementation.

April 9, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools.

This messaging is later than normal but as you will see from my updates about to follow, our nurses have had significant volumes of contact tracing after our Spring Break. It is imperative that students and staff stay out of schools if anyone in their immediate families is experiencing COVID symptoms. Likewise, student athletes should not attend practice or competitions if they are symptomatic or have been a “close contact” to anyone with a positive COVID result. If anyone has been tested for COVID, stay out of school until you receive a lab confirmed negative test result. As a school community, we need to pull together to protect each other as we are about to offer five day a week instruction for those families who selected it.

Now for our COVID Update:

For the period Friday, March 26th at noon through noon today, April 9th, I have the following Hybrid Learning Model positive cases, with no associated close contact quarantines, to report:

1 staff member positive at Bowne-Munro Elementary School
1 staff member positive at Central Elementary School
1 student positive at Chittick Elementary School
1 staff member positive at Irwin Elementary School
3 students positive at Lawrence Brook Elementary School
2 students positive at Memorial Elementary School
1 staff member positive at Warnsdorfer Elementary School
1 staff member positive at Hammarskjold Middle School
2 students positive at Churchill Junior High School
1 staff member positive at Churchill Junior High School
5 students positive at East Brunswick High School
3 staff members positive at Support Operations

In addition, we have the following positive cases with associated close contacts:

1 staff member positive at Lawrence Brook Elementary School with 3 associated close contacts
1 staff member positive at Hammarskjold Middle School with 1 associated close contact
1 staff member positive at Hammarskjold Middle School with 2 associated close contacts
1 student positive at Churchill Junior High School with 12 associated close contacts
1 staff positive at East Brunswick High School with 11 associated contacts
1 student athlete presumed positive with 10 associated contacts
1 student athlete positive with 13 associated close contacts
1 staff member positive with 28 associated close contacts, 3 of the associated close contacts were positive due to the initial positive case

Additionally, we have 21 students, 100% in our Remote Learning Model, who have tested positive for COVID during this reporting period.

March 26, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools.

The Learning Model Forms for Marking Period 4 are available on Parent Access and will close today at 3 PM

As Spring Break approaches, if you travel overnight to any U.S. state or territory beyond the immediate region (NY, PA, DE, CT) you will be required to quarantine from school for 10 calendar days after your return. However, if you are COVID tested between 3 - 5 days after your return from travel, and you are negative, you will need to quarantine 7 days instead of 10 days but you must produce evidence of travel and COVID test results. Students who elect to travel, under the aforementioned conditions, will be required to participate virtually and cannot come into their school buildings before they fulfill either their 7 or 10-day quarantine requirement.

If you travel to any state outside of New Jersey and return the same day with no overnight stay you do not need to quarantine, if you are symptom-free. Compliance with either the 7 or 10-day quarantine is mandatory to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in East Brunswick Public Schools.

Now for our COVID Update:

For the period Friday, March 19th at noon through 10 am today, March 26th, I have the following Hybrid Learning Model positive cases, with no associated close contact quarantines, to report:

1 student presumed positive at Irwin Elementary School
1 student positive at Warnsdorfer Elementary School
1 student positive at Churchill Junior High School
1 student presumed positive at Churchill Junior High School
2 contracted employees positive at Churchill Junior High School
1 student positive at East Brunswick High School

In addition, we have the following positive cases with associated close contacts:

1 student positive at Chittick Elementary School with 1 associated close contact
1 staff member positive at Memorial Elementary School with 6 associated close contacts
1 student positive at Warnsdorfer Elementary School with 5 associated close contacts
1 student positive at Warnsdorfer Elementary School with 10 associated close contacts
1 staff member positive at Churchill Junior High School with 2 associated close contacts
1 staff member positive at Support Operations with 1 associated close contact

Additionally, we have 12 students, 100% in our Remote Learning Model, who have tested positive for COVID during this reporting period.

March 19, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with your COVID update.

For the period from noon Friday, March 12th, through noon today, March 19th, I have the following Hybrid Learning Model positive cases, with no associated close contact quarantines, to report:

1 staff member positive at Chittick Elementary School
1 student positive at Frost Elementary School
1 student presumed positive at Frost Elementary School
2 students positive at Warnsdorfer Elementary School
2 students positive at East Brunswick High School

We also have the following positive COVID cases with associated close contacts:

1 staff member positive at Chittick Elementary School with 19 associated close contacts
1 student positive at Frost Elementary School with 2 associated close contacts
1 student presumed positive at Warnsdorfer Elementary School with 3 associated close contacts
1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School with 9 associated close contacts
1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 1 associated close contact
1 student athlete positive at East Brunswick High School with 11 associated close contacts

Additionally, we have 9 students, 100% in our Remote Learning Model, who have tested positive for COVID during this reporting period.

Our district COVID Recovery Resources have been updated with important information from our school nurses and can be found on the homepage of our website, in the top right tile.

March 19, 2021

Good Morning East Brunswick Community,

This Is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools.

We lost power and telephones at the high school this morning but power to most of the building and phones have been restored.

We are evaluating this situation to determine the cause. All building occupants are safe and the building is operating. We will keep the HS community apprised if we need to take additional steps.

March 18, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools with important 4th marking period updates.

Based on a strong assumption that the CDC will relax distancing recommendations in school settings before April 19th, 2021, I am planning to return PreK-12 students, for those families who select it, to school five days a week for single session days beginning Monday, April 19th - which is the first day of the 4th marking period.

The impact of Spring Break travel, COVID infection and close contact quarantines along with final classroom distancing recommendations and requirements may impact our forecasted implementation date but be assured that returning students to school five days a week remains one of my top priorities, if we can accomplish it safely.

The Learning Model Form selections for the 4th marking period will be either:

Virtual Learning Model (remote) or
In-Person Instruction Learning Model (5 days a week, beginning with our Single Session Day schedule and Supplemental Instruction in the afternoon)

(We will begin the 4th marking period with single session days, without lunch. We will evaluate our transition two weeks into the 4th marking period to measure continued district health and safety. Any additional step in this process is dependent on social distancing recommendations and required safeguards at that time. It is important to understand that students in 5 day a week for In-Person Instruction could be required to shift to Virtual Learning during periods of state mandated standardized testing or mandatory quarantines.)

The Learning Model Form for the 4th marking period will be open in Parent Access to change selections for every student on Monday, March 22nd at 3 PM.

The Learning Model Form will close on Friday, March 26th at 3 PM.

All changes made will take effect beginning Monday, April 19th - which is the first day of the 4th marking period.

All current Learning Model selections will be rolled forward to the 4th marking period. If your child is currently in the Hybrid Learning Model they will be moved to our In-Person Instruction Learning Model (5 days a week) unless you select to change your child to the full time Virtual Learning Model (remote).

Students currently in the Virtual Learning Model (remote) will remain there for the 4th marking period unless you select to change your child to the In-Person Instruction Learning Model, 5 days a week.

This is the last opportunity you will have to change your child’s Learning Model for this school year.

March 12, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools.

I want the EB community to know that plans for a variety of scenarios for the 4th marking period, focused on how we return more students and resume some school activities, have been developed. Frankly, the implementation of our near term plans will be influenced by the health of our school community after our collective return from Spring Break. Most importantly, the plans are constructed to give us the flexibility to begin to make changes at selected schools dependent on suppressing our future positive COVID-19 cases and associated mandatory quarantines.

We are in a critical phase. I cannot underestimate the importance of students and staff staying out of schools if anyone in their immediate families is experiencing COVID symptoms. Likewise, if anyone has been tested for COVID, stay out of school until you receive a lab confirmed negative test result. Let’s rally together so we can safely open our schools...this school year!

Now for your COVID update:

Just a reminder, today’s update is inclusive from last Friday, March 5th at noon through noon today, March 12th. Today begins my once a week COVID-19 reporting and I have the following Hybrid Learning Model positive cases, with no associated close contact quarantines, to report:

2 students positive at Chittick Elementary School
1 student positive at Central Elementary School
1 student presumed positive at Frost Elementary School
2 students positive at Churchill Junior High School
1 staff member positive at Churchill Junior High School
1 student positive at East Brunswick High School

We also have the following positive COVID cases with associated close contacts:

1 student positive at Bowne-Munro Elementary School with 3 associated close contacts
1 staff member positive at Central Elementary School with 1 associated close contact
1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School with 6 associated closed contacts
1 staff member positive at Hammarskjold Middle School with 2 associated close contacts
1 staff member positive at Hammarskjold Middle School with 19 associated close contacts
1 student positive at East Brunswick High School with 1 associated close contact
1 staff member positive at East Brunswick High School with 2 associated close contacts

Additionally, we have 12 students, 100% in our Remote Learning Model, who have tested positive for COVID during this reporting period.

I wish you all a safe and relaxing weekend.

March 5, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with important information.

Beginning next week, COVID messaging will only be sent on Fridays. You will continue to hear from me throughout the weeks with updates and reminders about our 4th marking period which begins April 19th.

As Spring Break approaches, if you travel overnight to any U.S. state or territory beyond the immediate region (NY, PA, DE, CT) you will be required to quarantine from school for 10 calendar days after your return. Evidence of a negative COVID test, proof of vaccine or proof of a positive COVID test result and recovery within the past 90 days cannot be accepted as a substitute for the mandatory 10-day quarantine. Students who elect to travel, under the aforementioned conditions, will be required to participate virtually and cannot come into their school buildings before they fulfill the 10-day quarantine requirement.

If you travel to any state outside of New Jersey and return the same day with no overnight stay you do not need to quarantine, if you are symptom-free. Compliance with the 10-calendar day quarantine is mandatory to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in East Brunswick Public Schools.

Now for our COVID update:

For the period March 2nd and through noon today, March 5th, I have the following positive COVID-19 cases which includes both virtual and hybrid students, with no associated close contact quarantines, to report:

2 students positive at Lawrence Brook Elementary School
3 students positive at Hammarskjold Middle School
1 student presumed positive at Hammarskjold Middle School
1 staff member positive at Hammarskjold Middle School
2 students presumed positive at East Brunswick High School
1 staff member positive at East Brunswick High School
1 staff member presumed positive at East Brunswick High School

In addition, we have the following positive COVID cases with associated close contacts:

1 student presumed positive at Churchill Junior High School with 1 associated close contact
1 staff member positive at East Brunswick High School with 6 associated close contacts

March 2, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with your COVID update.

For the period February 26th and through noon today, March 2nd, I have the following positive COVID-19 cases, with no associated close contact quarantines, to report:

1 student positive at Central Elementary School
1 staff positive at Memorial Elementary School
1 student presumed positive at Lawrence Brook Elementary School
1 student positive at Warnsdorfer Elementary School
1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School
2 students positive at Churchill Junior High School
2 students positive at East Brunswick High School
1 student presumed positive at East Brunswick High School

In addition, we have the following positive COVID cases which are “in school” transmissions resulting from cases at both Frost Elementary School and Hammarskjold Middle School that I previously reported. They are:

1 student positive at Frost Elementary School
1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School
1 staff positive at Hammarskjold Middle School

Finally, Hammarskjold Middle School will remain remote through this Friday, March 5th. All staff and hybrid students will return to HMS on Monday, March 8th.

February 27, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with a critical Hammarskjold Middle School update.

This weekend we have been tracking presumed positive COVID cases at Hammarskjold Middle School (HMS) that we are unable to directly relate to another positive COVID case, with multiple associated close contacts, that I shared with the community last Friday. We are treating this situation as a probable asymptomatic spread of COVID-19 within the HMS community.

Effective tomorrow morning, the entire HMS community, staff and students, will be remote through Thursday, March 4th, and will return to the building, Friday, March 5th.

It is critically important that anyone in the HMS community report any change in their normal medical profile. This could be as simple as the onset of a runny nose. The most common symptom, among those testing positive for COVID, is loss of taste or smell.

Even though this situation only affects HMS, I am communicating with the entire EB community so everyone is aware of the actions we are taking to curtail and prevent the further spread of COVID-19 in a single school while still keeping the rest of our school district operational.

If you have any questions, please reach out to your school nurse.

February 26, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with your COVID update.

Before I report today’s numbers, which are high, I want to give some context. Our recent return to our Hybrid Learning Model was with changes to our cohort structure. We have combined cohorts so there are only two per grade level. That means more students are in school each day. We currently use six feet of distancing as our standard for maintaining the highest level of safety.

Today’s COVID numbers reflect the significance of our strict quarantining protocols. Even under quarantine, affected teachers continue to teach, if they are able and affected students have the opportunity to learn and engage with their classmates, if they are able.

Our first priority is to prevent the spread of the virus and that is why immediate notification to your school’s nurse is absolutely critical if:

Anyone in the family is ill or has any COVID symptoms
Anyone has been in close contact with an individual with a known positive COVID test result (less than 6 feet for 15 minutes or more, even with masks)
Anyone plans to get a COVID test because they think they might be positive
Anyone has a positive COVID test result

For the period February 23rd and through noon today, February 26th, I have the following positive COVID-19 cases, with no associated close contact quarantines, to report:

1 staff positive at Irwin Elementary School
1 staff positive at Lawrence Brook Elementary School
2 students positive at Memorial Elementary School
1 staff positive at Hammarskjold Middle School
1 student positive at East Brunswick High School

In addition, we have the following positives with associated close contacts:

1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School with 67 associated close contacts
1 staff positive at Frost Elementary School with 19 associated close contacts
1 staff positive at Lawrence Brook Elementary School with 6 associated close contacts
1 staff positive at Memorial Elementary School with 6 associated close contacts

Enjoy this weekend without snow and ice in the forecast but please be safe while you are doing it.

February 23, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with your Tuesday COVID update.

For the period February 19th through noon today, February 23rd, I have the following positive COVID-19 cases, with no associated close contact quarantines, to report:

3 students positive at Chittick Elementary School
4 students positive at Hammarskjold Middle School
1 staff member positive at Hammarskjold Middle School
3 students positive at Churchill Junior High School
1 student positive at East Brunswick High School
1 student presumed positive at East Brunswick High School

In addition, we have 1 staff member positive at Lawrence Brook Elementary School with 10 associated close contacts.

February 19, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools.

As you know, I have been holding our snow days this year and utilizing our remote capabilities so we could get credit for single session days, even when it snowed. I also canceled supplemental instruction, in the afternoon, on five different days so anyone who wanted to get out to enjoy the snow could do so.

Finally, for all of you who wondered...here is the reason I made those decisions:

At last evening’s Board of Education meeting, the Board voted to move up the last day of school to Friday, June 18, 2021, because we had saved all the snow days built into our calendar. Before last night’s change our last day of school was Wednesday, June 23, 2021.

Graduation for the Class of 2021 will be held on Jay Doyle Field, at East Brunswick High School, again this year.

Now for the COVID update:

For the period February 16th through noon today, February 19th, I have the following positive COVID-19 cases, with no associated close contact quarantines, to report:

2 students positive at Hammarskjold Middle School
2 students positive at Churchill Junior High School
2 students positive at East Brunswick High School

In addition, we have 1 staff member positive at Lawrence Brook Elementary School, with one associated close contact.

This coming Monday we are looking forward to a full week of school! Continue to be careful in your travels this weekend. Warmer weather is on the way.

February 18, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools.

Tomorrow, Friday, February 19th, will be a full remote day, district wide, with supplemental instruction. Our snow removal team has made excellent progress today and roadways are expected to be cleared by morning but frankly this is the critical determining factor for tomorrow - accumulated snow on sidewalks in the Township, topped off with freezing rain tonight, will continue to present unacceptable conditions and hazards to walking students.

Lingering snow tonight is not expected to substantially impact us but I will make a decision on after school activities tomorrow morning.

The best news so far is the forecast for next week appears warmer. Let’s hope for no weather impacts to school next week.

Have a good evening.

February 17, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community.

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with a special winter storm update.

Tomorrow, Thursday, February 18th, will be a full remote instructional day, district wide with supplemental instruction in the afternoon, as we prepare for another snow, sleet and ice event that is forecasted to impact East Brunswick during the times hybrid students are scheduled to be in schools for face to face instruction, as well as times when students are typically being transported home after dismissal. After school activities are also canceled tomorrow. Essential personnel shall report to their facilities. All other staff will work remote tomorrow.

Friday’s instructional day may also be impacted if we have a significant amount of snow and our facility parking lot and sidewalk cleanups take longer than expected since the forecast calls for lingering snow into Friday morning. I will make the determination late Thursday, for Friday’s instructional day, when I have more accurate information since every day back in our schools is important to us.

Looking ahead, it appears next week is clear of snow that could further impact face to face hybrid instruction. My fingers are crossed, in the most unscientific way, in hope that it stays that way.

February 16, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools,

This morning at approximately 10:30 AM I was notified that an unresponsive middle aged male had been discovered by our school security officer on the north side of the CJHS athletic complex behind the school. Mr. Hanas, Churchill Principal, immediately placed the school in a Shelter in Place and school staff were updated. EBPD and Paramedics were already on the scene when I, along with our Assistant Superintendent of Student Services and Director of School Security Operations, arrived at the school. The response and investigation was isolated from students in the building and buses were rerouted at the building, for dismissal, to keep students from the investigative scene. I do not have further information. This remains an active police investigation.

Concurrently, there was an active EBPD investigation at the Air Force Recruiting Center on RT.18 near Racetrack road this morning. No EBPS students were in jeopardy but Irwin Elementary School was notified because of potential traffic backups, during dismissal, resulting from the police investigation.

Now for the COVID update:

For the period February 12th and through noon today, February 16th I have the following positive COVID-19 cases, with no associated close contact quarantines, to report:

2 students presumed positive at Frost Elementary School
1 student positive at Irwin Elementary School
1 student presumed positive Irwin Elementary School
1 staff member presumed positive at Hammarskjold Middle School
1 student positive at East Brunswick High School
1 staff member positive at Support Operations

We also have the following positive COVID-19 cases, with close contacts:

1 member of an athletic team positive with 20 close contacts
1 staff member positive at Chittick Elementary School with 1 close contact

February 12, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools. I have to tell you that Bentley the Snow Dog has been pretty upset with me since I posted #BlameBentley after one of our previous snowstorms so I need to set the record straight.

I am the only person responsible for decisions to move our schools to remote operations. While I utilize great amounts of data and consult with Township officials, I ultimately make a decision that is best for East Brunswick Public Schools. Despite the tremendously appreciated and relentless efforts of everyone involved in snow removal, conditions throughout the Township can vary, as we saw yesterday. Rt.18 was passable while Ryders Lane had slippery conditions.

Full remote instruction will never replace the qualitative benefits of face to face instruction but our teaching professionals continue to excel in creating and delivering exceptional instructional experiences for their students in virtual settings, along with support from our school nurses, guidance counselors and student assistance staff, under less than exceptional circumstances. The commitment of our custodial staff and maintenance tradespeople, (both who have double duty with snow removal operations on top of sanitizing and maintaining environmental conditions in all our facilities), bus drivers, child nutrition, community programs, school security officers, support staff, administration, and volunteer Board of Education members makes our continued operation possible.

Everyone continues to invest countless long days, nights and weekends with "behind the scenes" planning no one ever sees. As many of you in our community know first hand; the workdays are long. The EBPS staff cares. I witness their care and drive for excellence every day. We care about every student who attends our schools and we are constantly adjusting to meet the needs of every student. We also acknowledge the unprecedented burdens EB families have endured this past year.

If you think I am bragging about everyone associated with the school district that probably had some influence in your decision to live in East Brunswick, you would be absolutely right. We all have choices. Our success will be measured in how we choose to respond to the adversities we cannot control...one of those being significant weather impacts that continue to interfere with our complete restart of hybrid instruction.

As we prepare for the probability of more winter storms next week, I will continue to make school decisions based on data and preserving the safety of our school community members.

For the period February 9th and through noon today, February 12th I have the following positive COVID-19 cases, with no associated close contact quarantines, to report:

2 students positive at Lawrence Brook Elementary School
1 student positive at Memorial Elementary School
2 students positive at Churchill Junior High School
2 students positive at East Brunswick High School

We also have:

1 student athlete positive with 14 associated close contacts

Enjoy the long weekend.

February 10, 2021

Good Evening East Brunswick Community,

This Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools,...and I apologize for the late night call. The snow forecast has changed throughout this evening. I do not want to jeopardize the safety of anyone.

The probability of very slippery, snow covered roads in the morning is extremely high so tomorrow, Thursday, February 11th, will be a remote day, district wide, with no supplemental instruction in the afternoon. Only essential personnel shall report to their assigned facilities.

Again, tomorrow, Thursday, February 11th, will be a district wide remote, single session day with no supplemental instruction in the afternoon.

February 9, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools.

For the period February 5th and through noon today, February 9th I have the following positive COVID-19 cases, with no associated close contact quarantines, to report:

1 staff member positive at Central Elementary School
1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School
3 students positive at East Brunswick High School

We also have:

1 staff member positive at East Brunswick High School with 1 associated close contact.

We continue to monitor another weather system moving east this week with the likely potential for more accumulation of snow. As always, I will update the community on any weather related school impacts as soon as I have the most up to date information.

February 8, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools. First, do not worry. I am not calling to cancel anything. I have a few critical updates to share as we reopen our schools and restart hybrid, face to face instruction tomorrow, Tuesday, February 9th, for those families who have chosen it for their children.

Tomorrow morning, in addition to bundling up, do not forget to mask up. Masks are required for everyone in our schools or district facilities.

If you have NOT chosen the third marking period Hybrid Learning Model for your child or children, please DO NOT send them to school tomorrow. Contact your child’s school if you have any questions about the learning model you have selected. We will conduct another learning model selection period, about mid March, before the beginning of the fourth marking period.

We look forward to seeing students tomorrow whose families have selected the Hybrid Learning Model.

February 7, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with an important, Bentley the snow dog approved, snow and school status update.

Tomorrow, Monday, February 8th, all East Brunswick schools will remain in remote operation. As we have previously done, it will be a single session day with no supplemental instruction in the afternoon. Only essential personnel shall report to facilities. By preserving snow days, we have the opportunity to give back each one saved later this school year.

My first EB snow message was delivered to the community on Super Bowl Sunday in 2015. Here we are, years later on the same weekend, halted again by Mother Nature.

We were fully prepared to return to hybrid instruction tomorrow. After consulting with the Township Office of Emergency Management, it is not just the snow we are dealing with throughout the rest of today and tonight...it is also the freezing that will occur overnight and will continue to present challenges through tomorrow morning.

Safety for all students, staff and the families of EB, is my first priority in these situations. This time the weather is the predominant safety concern, not COVID. We anticipate welcoming students, whose families have chosen the Hybrid Learning Model, back to school Tuesday, February 9th.

If you have NOT chosen the Hybrid Learning Model for your child PLEASE DO NOT send them to school on Tuesday. We have built class capacities, compliant with all COVID safety and health protocols, based on the number of students who have selected the Hybrid Learning Model for the third marking period.

If you need to venture out, be especially careful tonight and through tomorrow morning. Stay safe. Let us get through tomorrow so we can safely reopen and return to schools on Tuesday.

February 5, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools.

Today, as we finalize preparations for the restart of our Hybrid Learning Model and welcoming students back to schools, we are monitoring updates on another winter storm that is expected to arrive in East Brunswick on Sunday with more snow.

We are still planning to open schools Monday. However, any call I make to the community, regarding this storm and its potential impact on us, may come as late as Sunday evening. I will wait until I have the latest and most accurate information on snowfall and the time needed for its removal, as well as ensuring all our sites can be made safe for students and staff.

Now our COVID update:

For the period February 2nd through noon today, February 5th I have the following positive COVID-19 cases, with no associated close contact quarantines, to report:

1 student presumed positive at Frost Elementary School
1 staff member positive at Irwin Elementary School
1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School
1 student presumed positive at Churchill Junior High School
1 student positive at East Brunswick High School
1 staff member positive at East Brunswick High School

February 2, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, first with a critical update:

Our restart of our Hybrid Learning Model is delayed until Monday, February 8th. This delay is necessary to give us time to completely clear large volumes of snow from all our properties and prepare for the safe return of students and staff. This will also give the Township additional time to clear roads that will allow our buses to safely run their routes and residents can use the additional time to clear their sidewalks before students return to school next Monday.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, February 3rd and Thursday, February 4th will be remote instructional days with supplemental instruction.
Friday, February 5th, will be a remote instructional day but students, district wide, will not have supplemental instruction.
Staff will be permitted into their schools Friday and will use the afternoon as Professional Development to prepare for hybrid instruction. Our custodial staff will clean and sanitize our facilities over the weekend to prepare for students on Monday, February 8th.

Now our COVID update:

For the period January 29th through noon today, February 2nd I have the following positive COVID-19 cases, with no associated close contact quarantines, to report:

1 student positive at Chittick Elementary School
1 staff member positive at Chittick Elementary School
1 student positive at Memorial Elementary School
1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School
1 student presumed positive at Churchill Junior High School
1 staff member positive at Churchill Junior High School
2 students positive at East Brunswick High School

Please be careful as you clear your own properties of the heavy snow.

January 31, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with breaking snow news. This morning I dressed Bentley, the snow dog, as a groundhog. Apparently, he thinks he saw his shadow. Look what is going to happen now...snow and plenty of it. If you do not like the white stuff #BlameBentley.

It looks like tomorrow morning we will still be dealing with a significant impact from this latest winter storm. This will be followed by the potential for more snow on Tuesday morning. As we did before, remote instruction will occur in the mornings both tomorrow, Monday, February 1st and Tuesday, February 2nd., following our published single session schedule. District wide, there will be no supplemental instruction on Monday and Tuesday but along with that we are trying to offer some flexibility so students can get outside after the abbreviated days and enjoy the snow if they choose to do so.

Be careful if you absolutely need to get out. This event could be some snow, followed by some sleet and ice then topped off with more snow.

Have a great rest of your weekend and be safe the next two days.

January 29, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools.

As we plan for our return to hybrid instruction on Thursday, February 4th, each school continues to take precautions to prevent the spread of viruses and other germs by cleaning and sanitizing daily beyond recommended standards. Additionally, it is imperative that we all adhere to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention's (CDC) established safeguards.

Parents and guardians...please help us prepare for next week by reintroducing your young children to their mask if they have not worn it in a while. Proper fit and wearing it over both the mouth and nose will protect your child, as well as all those around them.

For this restart and return to hybrid instruction, the NJ Department of Health guidelines for recommended quarantines have changed. Our model beginning February 4th is to maintain 6 feet of distancing, with everyone masked, except for specific instances when brief encounters to provide instruction require less than 6 feet of separation as long as the encounters do not exceed 15 total minutes within a 24 hour period.

Quarantines for this restart could range anywhere from a few individuals in a classroom to an entire building. Each case will be analyzed on its own circumstances and on our ability to verify contacts through tracing conducted by our school nurses.

Through our collective efforts, we hope to sustain our restart to hybrid instruction. Ultimately, we have a shared responsibility to keep ourselves and each other safe. Our school district success will be dependent on our individual commitment to be transparent about positive COVID-19 test results, as well as all contacts in the event of an exposure to someone with a positive case of COVID-19.

Now our COVID update:

For the period January 26th through noon today, January 29th I have the following positive COVID-19 cases, with no associated close contact quarantines, to report:

2 students positive at Chittick Elementary School
1 staff member positive at Chittick Elementary School
1 student positive at Lawrence Brook Elementary School
1 student presumed positive at Memorial Elementary School
1 staff member positive Memorial Elementary School
1 staff member positive at Warnsdorfer Elementary School
1 student positive at Churchill Junior High School
1 staff member positive at Churchill Junior High School

We also have the following positive COVID-19 cases, with close contacts:

1 contracted staff member positive with 2 associated close contacts
1 staff member positive at East Brunswick High School with 8 associated close contacts.

Have a great weekend and those who have chosen it...lets get ready to return to school.

January 26, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with your COVID update.

For the period January 22nd through noon today, January 26th I have the following positive COVID-19 cases, with no associated close contact quarantines, to report:

1 staff member positive at Irwin Elementary School
1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School
1 student presumed positive at Hammarskjold Middle School
1 student positive at Churchill Junior High School
1 staff member positive at East Brunswick High School

Just a note...throughout the rest of this school year I will not be reporting numerous quarantines resulting from close contacts occurring outside the district since they are constantly changing. I will only report positive EB COVID’s and any related close contacts within the EB school community.

As we continue to prepare for our return to face to face instruction I am asking every family to be transparent with us. If we all follow published health guidelines, report close contacts and illnesses (by calling or emailing your school nurse) and most importantly stay out of school if anyone in the family is presumed or diagnosed as a positive COVID then our shared commitment to safety is elevated.

I want to thank the community, in advance, for being partners with us. Keeping ourselves and everyone around us safe is the only way we can successfully pull off the monumental task of returning our schools to full operation. When we reopen, COVID health concerns may necessitate closing single schools or even groups of schools so we can keep the rest of the school district open. If you already have a childcare backup plan, in the event your child’s school is closed for quarantine, it may be prudent to keep it and if you do not have a plan it may be helpful to develop a childcare backup plan.

If I have any intermediate information to share I will reach out to you this week. Otherwise, I will update you again on Friday.

January 25, 2021

Good Evening East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools...tonight with rumor control and correcting reports appearing on EB social media.

Our targeted and anticipated return to hybrid instruction continues to be Thursday, February 4th which is the beginning of our third making period. I monitor daily COVID data and want our return to be sustainable.

Tonight, I remain focused on February 4th. Considering the relationship we have established, I thought it was best if you heard directly from me.

Have a great rest of your night.

January 22, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with your COVID update.

For the period January 19th through noon today, January 22nd. I have the following positive COVID-19 cases, with no associated close contact quarantines, to report:

1 student positive at Chittick Elementary School
2 students positive at Frost Elementary School
1 staff member positive at Irwin Elementary School
1 student positive at Warnsdorfer Elementary School
1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School
1 staff member positive at Hammarskjold Middle School
2 students positive at Churchill Junior High School
4 students positive at East Brunswick High School
1 staff member positive at Support Operations

In addition, 14 students with no positive COVID cases, are in quarantine due to close contact exposures not related to East Brunswick Public Schools.

I would like to restate some of what I shared at our Board of Education meeting last night:

For our return to face to face instruction to work, whatever the date, I am asking every family to be transparent with us. If we all follow published health guidelines, report close contacts and illnesses and most importantly stay out of school if anyone in the family is presumed or diagnosed as a positive COVID then our shared commitment to safety is elevated.

January 19, 2021

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools.

Before my COVID update, I want to remind the community that the Learning Model Form for Churchill Junior High School and East Brunswick High School opened today at 3 PM, through Parent Access, and will close at 3 PM on Friday, January 22nd. If you do not submit the form your child will continue with remote learning instruction.

For the period January 15th through noon today, January 19th. I have the following positive COVID-19 cases, with no associated close contact quarantines, to report:

1 staff member positive at Bowne-Munro Elementary School
1 staff member positive at Irwin Elementary School
1 staff member presumed positive at Irwin Elementary School
2 staff members positive at Warnsdorfer Elementary School
1 student positive at Churchill Junior High School
4 staff members positive at Churchill Junior High School
1 staff member presumed positive at Churchill Junior High School
3 students positive at East Brunswick High School
1 staff member presumed positive at East Brunswick High School

We also have the following positive COVID-19 cases, with close contacts:

1 staff member at the Administration building with 1 associated close contact
1 staff member at Hammarskjold Middle School with 1 associated close contact
1 contracted staff member at Warnsdorfer Elementary School with 1 associated close contact

Over the weekend we identified 3 unrelated positive COVID cases at Hammarskjold Middle School, all occurring within the last 14 days, among staff whose work functions required them to be in the building. Following New Jersey Department of Health COVID-19 Public Health Recommendations for Local Health Departments for K-12 Schools, updated December 22, 2020, this facility will remain closed to all staff, except those responsible for cleaning or maintaining it, until February 1st.

We still continue to aggressively prepare for our restart of hybrid, face to face instruction. While our targeted return to hybrid instruction remains February 4th, I want to be completely transparent that my final decision and recommendation to the Board of Education will be dependent on our ability, closer to that time, to safely begin and reasonably maintain face to face instruction.

January 15, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools.

For the period January 12th through noon today, January 15th I have the following positive COVID-19 cases, with no associated close contact quarantines, to report

1 staff member positive at Bowne-Munro Elementary School
1 staff member positive at Central Elementary School
3 students positive at Frost Elementary School
1 staff member positive at Lawrence Brook Elementary School
1 student positive at Warnsdorfer Elementary School
2 staff members positive at Warnsdorfer Elementary School
1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School
1 student presumed positive at Hammarskjold Middle School
1 staff member positive at Hammarskjold Middle School
2 students positive at Churchill Junior High School
1 student presumed positive at Churchill Junior High School
1 staff member presumed positive at Churchill Junior High School
6 students positive at East Brunswick High School
1 student presumed positive at East Brunswick High School

As we prepare to restart hybrid instruction on Thursday, February 4th, please review the attached Return to In Person Learning, 2021 Guidelines for changes to health monitoring procedures.

These updates have been made by the Department of Health in an effort to continue to keep everyone as safe and healthy as possible. This information will also be available on the homepage of our website, in the top left tile. If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact your school nurse.

Have a great weekend.

Attachments:
messages/attachments/e7027c5031f9c8f472888f8e59354cfe/Return_to_In_Person_Learning_2021_Guidlines.pdf

January 14, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools with an important announcement.

After careful consideration of the current COVID-19 infection and transmission rates, we will be postponing our return to hybrid instruction, for the entire district, to February 4th, which is the beginning of the third marking period.

I know some of you will be relieved and some will be frustrated in hearing about this delay...maybe even angered. I want everyone to know that I do not take this decision lightly. Honestly, it is gut wrenching to make this call but it is the right decision at this time. I have heard clearly from some of you about the impact of virtual learning on your children and above all I want to return East Brunswick Public Schools to full operation and be able to safely offer face to face instruction as part of our Hybrid Learning Model. Unfortunately, the stark reality of the numbers reported yesterday point to a trend that hasn't peaked yet. The current COVID transmission rate is over 10% higher than the maximum acceptable safe threshold established before we returned in September. As an example, if we had been offering hybrid instruction during this time, the last three reports of positive and presumed positive COVID infections, in my calls to you, would have closed nearly every one of our schools.

Just as important as the date we can once again offer our Hybrid Learning Model, is our ability to safely deliver instruction within our buildings while sustaining it and keeping our schools and facilities open for the remainder of this school year...for our students, for our staff and for the peace of mind for each of you receiving this message today.

Asymptomatic spread of the COVID virus, and possibly its variants, has been creating havoc on our return. Our successful return to schools on February 4th will be measured by our collective preparedness for it. In fact, as I deliver this message, some members of our organization have received their first COVID vaccinations and others are being scheduled to get theirs. We need to pull together, as a school community and use this extra few weeks to get ready for our return. Along with the vaccination rollout and acceleration that means all of us need to establish and maintain safe practices...and we need to monitor our social distancing whether we are masked or not. I cannot overstate this...we need to protect not only ourselves but everyone around us. We need to be well...stay well to pull off our district wide return to face to face hybrid instruction, for those who select it, on February 4th.

The Learning Model Form for Churchill Junior High School and East Brunswick High School will be open at 3 PM on Tuesday, January 19th, as scheduled, through Parent Access. Later some parents will receive additional information from district administrators about services for their children and how we will continue to support individual needs until we return to our schools on February 4th. Please do not hesitate to call us if you have questions or need additional support during our postponement.

January 12, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools.

For the period January 8th through noon today, January 12th I have the following positive COVID-19 cases, with no associated close contact quarantines, to report:

1 Student positive at Chittick Elementary School
2 Students presumed positive at Frost Elementary School
1 Student positive at Irwin Elementary School
1 Staff member presumed positive at Irwin Elementary School
1 Student positive at Lawrence Brook Elementary School
2 Students positive at Memorial Elementary School
1 Student positive at Warnsdorfer Elementary School
1 Staff member positive at Warnsdorfer Elementary School
4 Students positive at Hammarskjold Middle School
1 Staff member positive at Hammarskjold Middle School
3 Students positive at Churchill Junior High School
1 Student presumed positive at Churchill Junior High School
1 Staff member positive at Churchill Junior High School
4 Students positive at East Brunswick High School

In spite of these numbers we are continuing to work to not only return but to sustain in person instruction for the remainder of this school year. Please help us by being safe and continuing safe practices.

January 8, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, again.

For the period January 5th through noon today, January 8th, I have the following positive COVID-19 cases, with no associated close contact quarantines, to report:

1 student positive at Chittick Elementary School
1 student positive at Frost Elementary School
1 student positive at Irwin Elementary School
3 student positives at Memorial Elementary School
2 students presumed positive at Memorial Elementary School
1 student positive at Hammarskjold Middle School
3 student positives at Churchill Junior High School
1 student presumed positive at Churchill Junior High School
3 student positives at East Brunswick High School
1 student presumed positive at East Brunswick High School
1 staff positive at East Brunswick High School

In addition we have:

1 staff positive at Hammarskjold Middle School with 3 associated close contacts.

In spite of these numbers we are working hard to not only return but to sustain in person instruction for the remainder of this school year. Help us by being safe and continuing safe practices.

Have a great weekend.

January 8, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with a reminder that the Learning Model Form for Elementary and Hammarskjold Middle School is available through Parent Access and will close today, January 8th at 3 PM. If you do not submit a new form for your child they will automatically continue in the Remote Learning Model.

After our board meeting last night we continue to plan to return to Hybrid Learning Model instruction on Tuesday, January 19th for elementary and HMS students only.

Learning Model Forms for CJHS and EBHS will open on January 19th at 3 PM, in Parent Access, and we plan to return those students to hybrid instruction on February 4th.

As I have stated previously, COVID infection or transmission data may affect our target dates for return to hybrid instruction but for now we remain focused on our tiered return beginning with elementary and HMS students.

I'll update you on COVID later this afternoon.

January 7, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools. I apologize for the unusual timing of this message but we find ourselves navigating unusual times.

The single focus of my message is to address the events in our Nation’s capital yesterday and our district’s response to it. This message will be part of my Superintendent’s Report tonight so this is intended to reach our whole community whether you planned to watch the virtual board meeting tonight or not.

Like many of you, I was astonished to watch the events unfold yesterday on live television. Two thoughts quickly flashed across my mind. First, how do we help our students process what they are witnessing on top of dealing with a worldwide pandemic and from my own personal perspective how do I answer the questions of my own middle schooler who had just studied the Electoral College and had an understanding of how the Constitution defined Congress’ role in certifying a new President.

My son’s first questions were “What is happening?”, “Who is doing it?” and “How did it happen?” Understandably, I have to believe these are just a sample of many questions being asked across our school district community. To that end our teachers are committed to creating safe spaces for the discussion of these recent and unsettling topics, especially as events continue to unfold over the coming weeks. Above all, we want our students to feel safe and know that they are supported by the entire East Brunswick Public Schools community.

As we remain physically disconnected, we have provided a variety of high quality resources for parents and guardians and to help guide discussions at home. They are located on the homepage of our website for your convenience and accessibility.

As always, please contact your schools or my office directly if you need any other assistance.

Have a great rest of your day.

January 5, 2021

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools. I hope everyone had a peaceful break. Once again I’m coming to you with your COVID update for Tuesday, January 5th.

For the period December 22nd through noon today, January 5th, I have the following positive COVID-19 cases, with no associated close contact quarantines, to report:

3 students positive at Irwin Elementary School
1 student presumed positive at Irwin Elementary School
2 students positive at Lawrence Brook Elementary School
2 students positive at Memorial Elementary School
1 student presumed positive at Memorial Elementary School
1 staff member positive at Memorial Elementary School
1 student positive at Warnsdorfer Elementary School
2 staff members positive at Warnsdorfer Elementary School
3 students positive at Hammarskjold Middle School
2 students presumed positive at Hammarskjold Middle School
3 staff members positive at Hammarskjold Middle School
6 students positive at Churchill Junior High School
2 staff members positive at Churchill Junior High School
1 student positive at East Brunswick High Student
1 staff member positive at East Brunswick High School
1 staff member positive at the Administration Building

In addition, we have 2 staff members positive at our Support Operations facility with 7 close contacts. This was a result of a direct school transmission.

I know this is a longer reporting period, because of our recess, but this is the most significant and largest group of positive COVID cases we have reported to date and we have not yet experienced the full impact of holidays. I continue to evaluate the safety and timing of our return and will share my intermediate assessment results with the Board of Education this Thursday in their closed session. I will have updated information for the community when I report this Friday, January 8th.

Just a reminder, the Learning Model Forms are now available on Parent Access for students in the Elementary Schools as well as for students in Hammarskjold Middle School. If you do not submit a new form for your child they will automatically continue in the remote learning model.

Learning Model Forms for students in Churchill Junior High School and East Brunswick High School will be available through Parent Access on January 19th.

Here is the recap of the important dates based on my proposed plan and anticipating we can return to hybrid instruction safely.

Elementary and HMS hybrid students and staff return Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at 50% student capacity.

The Learning Model Form will be open for Elementary and HMS parents through Parent Access on January 4th at 3 PM and will close Friday, January 8th at 3 PM.

CJHS and EBHS hybrid students and staff return on Thursday, February 4, 2021 at 50% student capacity.

The Learning Model Form will be open for CJHS and EBHS Parents through Parent Access January 19th at 3 PM and close Friday, January 22nd at 3 PM.

The volume and frequency of COVID infections will be major factors in my recommendation on when we return to hybrid instruction if we need to adjust these dates because of safety concerns.

Have a great and safe rest of your day. I’ll talk to you Friday.

December 22, 2020

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with your COVID update for Tuesday, December 22nd.

For the period December 15th through noon today, December 22nd, I have the following positive COVID-19 cases, with no associated close contact quarantines, to report:

1 student presumed positive at Chittick Elementary School
1 student presumed positive at East Brunswick High School
2 students positive at East Brunswick High School
1 staff positive at Frost Elementary School
1 staff positive at Support Operations

Additionally, we have 1 Contract Employee positive which was a result of an in school transmission.

The next part of my message contains a lot of information. The email that accompanies this phone call will contain all the details and this message will be archived under my messages on the homepage of our website, ebnet.org.

We had originally planned our return for January 11, 2021. After vetting our safe options we have decided to begin to return Tuesday, January 19, 2021 to hybrid instruction as an option for families. This will be on a tiered schedule beginning with just our eight elementary schools and Hammarskjold Middle School, if it is safe to do so as we approach that date.

On Thursday, February 4, 2021, Churchill Junior High School and East Brunswick High School Hybrid students will follow and join the rest of our district when they return to their buildings. We will be combining secondary (HMS, CJHS and HS) Hybrid Learning Model Teams 1 and 3 and will also combine secondary Hybrid Learning Model Teams 2 and 4.

Hybrid students will attend two days, be virtual for two days, attend two days and be virtual for two days and continue to follow that schedule.

The Learning Model Form will be available on Parent Access for every student according to the timeline below. If you do not submit a new form for your child they will automatically continue in the remote learning model.

Here is the recap of the important dates:

Elementary and HMS hybrid students and staff return Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at 50% student capacity.

The Learning Model Form will be open for Elementary and HMS parents through Parent Access on January 4th at 3 PM and will close Friday, January 8th at 3 PM.

CJHS and EBHS hybrid students and staff return on Thursday, February 4, 2021 at 50% student capacity.

The Learning Model Form will be open for CJHS and EBHS Parents through Parent Access January 19th at 3 PM and close Friday, January 22nd at 3 PM.

Please continue to assist us. If any student or staff tests positive for COVID-19 during our full remote instruction they must continue to contact their school’s nurse to report it.

Have a safe and peaceful winter break. My sincerest wishes for a better 2021 to everyone. Do something that makes you smile or maybe do something that makes someone else smile. We all need that right now.

Btw...I’m going to give you a break from my constant reporting during our recess. My next report will come the week of January 4, 2021.

December 18, 2020

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with your COVID update for Friday, December 18th.

For the period December 15th through noon today, December 18th, I have the following positive COVID-19 cases, with no associated close contact quarantines, to report:

2 students presumed positive at Bowne-Munro Elementary School
1 student at Frost Elementary School
2 students at Memorial Elementary School
1 student presumed positive at Warnsdorfer Elementary School
1 student at Hammarskjold Middle School
1 student at Churchill Junior High School
2 students at East Brunswick High School

As you can see, the COVID-19 infection rate among students is rising.

Any student or staff who tests positive for COVID-19 during our full remote instruction should continue to contact their school’s nurse to report it.

Information about forms for parents and guardians to make selections for their children’s learning model will be communicated before January 4th as we continue to prepare for our anticipated return to some form of face to face instruction in January. Our goal remains returning students to the Hybrid Learning Model, for those families who select it, as soon as we possibly can.

Our return will be tiered by prioritizing specific groups or grades of students all while monitoring safety and maintaining that safety for an established period of time before we reinstate our hybrid learning model throughout the district.

As always, once my recommendations have been reviewed and approved by the Board of Education I will immediately communicate our plans with you so you can make plans for your own family.

Have a great rest of your day and a safe weekend.

December 17, 2020

Good Morning East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with your first snow message of the year...in fact in a couple of years.

I am so sorry. I was just informed that my message intended for the community, last night at 6 PM, was never delivered to you.

With snow arriving last night, we activated our single session snow day today. Our instruction will continue this morning only. We will follow our single session schedule for today, Thursday, December 17th, and there will be no supplemental instruction this afternoon. It’ll be time to get outside, take pictures and enjoy the moments these times bring.

While cleanup is continuing please be extra cautious if you need to go out. School property cleanup operations are in full swing today so please do not go onto district properties until snow removal and salting have been completed. I sincerely appreciate your patience and assistance so we can maintain a safe environment until our crews have completed their work.

Have a great rest of your day.

December 16, 2020

Good Evening East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with your first snow message of the year...in fact in a couple of years.

With snow arriving, we will activate our single session snow day tomorrow. Snow may continue into tomorrow morning but our instruction will too. We will follow our single session schedule tomorrow, Thursday, December 17th, and there will be no supplemental instruction in the afternoon. It’ll be time to get outside, take pictures and enjoy the moments these times bring.

Bentley the snow dog has already approved the snowman making capabilities of this year's first snow. He's not a fan of the sleet. In fact the roads may be coated with ice after tonight so please be extra cautious if you need to go out.

Have a great rest of your evening.

December 15, 2020

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with your COVID update for Tuesday, December 15th.

For the period December 11th through noon today, December 15th, I have the following positive COVID-19 cases, with no associated close contact quarantines, to report:

2 students at Frost Elementary School
2 staff members at Frost Elementary School
1 staff member at Memorial Elementary School
1 staff member at Churchill Junior High School
1 student at East Brunswick High School
2 presumed positive students at East Brunswick High School

Additionally we have:

1 contract service provider at Hammarskjold Middle School with 3 associated close contacts who are also contract service providers
1 staff member at Churchill Junior High School with 7 close contacts

I am sorry if you are weary of me repeating this but it is so important that If any student or staff tests positive for COVID-19 during our full remote instruction that they continue to contact their school’s nurse to report it.

Information about forms for parents and guardians to make selections for their children’s learning model will be communicated before January 4th as we continue to prepare for our return to some form of face to face instruction in January. Our return is anticipated to be tiered by prioritizing specific groups or grades of students all while monitoring safety and maintaining that safety for an established period of time before we reinstate our hybrid learning model throughout the district. As always, once my recommendations have been reviewed and approved by the Board of Education I will immediately communicate our plans to you because I know you may need time to make plans for your own family.

Now let’s talk snow days! First we need snow...check that off. I think we’ll have that covered...the ground that is...with plenty of white stuff. So here is the plan - once we get the snow I will call you with a single session snow day announcement. School will operate for the morning only and there will be no supplemental instruction in the afternoon that is deemed a single session snow day. It’ll be time to get outside!

For everyone who is already rolling their eyes and asking why not a full snow day?...here’s why…

By doing a single session, we get credit for the school day. As this pandemic subsides and weather gets warmer it will be one less "in session" school day, especially if we are in a position to give back snow days already planned in our calendar. You might not like me now but you’ll probably like the decision later.

With that, have a great afternoon. Grab the shovels, milk, bread and toilet paper. On your mark...get set...SNOW!

December 14, 2020

Dear East Brunswick Public School District Parents/Guardians, Staff, and Students,

As you know, we are always seeking to provide the highest quality educational experience which includes building a culture of inclusion and diversity for all students. As such, we are pleased to announce that East Brunswick Public Schools has launched the first phase of a district-wide initiative. The district is moving forward on a comprehensive plan to support cultural diversity and sensitivity, racial literacy, and antiracism across the school system. Our student body represents an increasingly diverse cross-section of ethnicities and religious groups and district leadership wants to ensure that our culture, teacher practice and curriculum all reflect this diversity and contribute toward a safe and inclusive learning environment for all students.

To that end, we are partnering with an outside consultant to conduct a thorough needs assessment to determine existing areas of strength as well as gaps and blind spots as it pertains to cultural and racial sensitivity. This will include an assessment of the following areas:

School climate and culture
Teacher beliefs, behaviors, and classroom practice as it pertains to racial sensitivity
Leadership practices and district policies
Effectiveness of existing support structures (e.g. counseling services)
High level review of curriculum to determine levels of racial literacy

The needs assessment will be conducted via the following activities:

Completion of a District Wide Equity Audit, via information gathered through environmental scans of school sites, Focus Group interviews with district staff members, students and parents
Review and analysis of existing district data as it pertains to grades, truancy, graduation rates, suspension rates, and student achievement rates across racial and ethnic groups
District Climate Survey covering beliefs and behaviors of stakeholder groups regarding racial literacy
Simultaneously, all our educational staff will receive upfront professional development workshops covering Racial and Cultural Literacy for Educators.

Your feedback is vital in these efforts and you will be invited to complete the online survey and possibly participate in the focus groups referenced above. We look forward to hearing your perspectives, thoughts and ideas.

December 11, 2020

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with your COVID update for Friday, December 11th.

For the period December 8th through noon today, December 11th, I have the following positive COVID-19 cases, with no associated close contact quarantines, to report:

3 students at Irwin Elementary School
3 students at Lawrence Brook Elementary School
3 students presumed positive at Memorial Elementary School
1 student at Chittick Elementary School
1 staff member at Chittick Elementary School
1 presumed positive student at Churchill Junior High School
1 staff member at Churchill Junior High School
1 student presumed positive at East Brunswick High School

Additionally, we have 1 staff member at East Brunswick High School with one associated close contact.

If any student or staff tests positive for COVID-19 during our full remote instruction it is imperative they continue to contact their school’s nurse to report it.

In spite of the exposure and infection rates I have reported today, I have heard from many of you about remote learning concerns...how it has affected your children and your desire to have your children return to in person, face to face, instruction. Like you, I want to see all our students return to school but maintaining safety in all our schools and facilities will continue to be the dominant factor in any decisions and recommendations I make to the Board of Education.

Next week we will be asking parents and guardians to affirm or modify selections for their children’s learning model as we continue to prepare for our anticipated return to some form of face to face instruction on January 11th. I want to caution the EB community that our return may need to be tiered by prioritizing specific groups or grades of students all while monitoring safety and maintaining that safety for an established period of time before we reinstate our hybrid learning model throughout the district. As always, once I have made recommendations to the Board of Education, I will quickly communicate those decisions and associated timelines to you.

I wish everyone a great and safe weekend.

December 8, 2020

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with your COVID update for Tuesday, December 8th.

For the period December 4th through noon today, December 8th, I have the following positive COVID-19 cases, with no associated close contact quarantines, to report:

1 student at Central Elementary School
1 staff member at Central Elementary School
1 student at Chittick Elementary School
1 student Lawrence Brook Elementary School - presumed positive
2 students at Lawrence Brook Elementary School
2 students at Memorial Elementary School - presumed positive
1 staff member at Memorial Elementary School
1 staff member at the Administration Building

Additionally, we have one positive staff member at Churchill Junior High School with 5 close contacts.

If any student or staff tests positive for COVID-19 during our full remote instruction it is imperative they continue to contact their school’s nurse to report it.

December 4, 2020

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with your COVID update for Friday, December 4th.

For the period December 2nd through noon today, December 4th, I have the following positive COVID-19 cases with no associated close contact quarantines to report:

1 Staff member at Frost Elementary School
1 Staff member at Lawrence Brook Elementary School
1 Student at Hammarskjold Middle School (in-school transmission)
1 Student at Hammarskjold Middle School
1 Staff member at Hammarskjold Middle School
1 Student at Churchill Junior High School
4 Students at East Brunswick High School

In addition, we have one East Brunswick High School staff member with one associated close contact.

If any student or staff tests positive for COVID-19 during our full remote instruction, it is imperative they immediately contact their school’s nurse to report it. This will give us additional critical information that we will use to schedule our return to hybrid instruction at the capacities we had planned for the beginning of the second marking period, this past November 17th. As you recall, those plans were postponed because of our increased positive COVID cases among staff and students.

We will continue to closely monitor state, county, township and school district transmission rates. The final date for reopening our hybrid format will be dependent on that data.

Take care and be safe this weekend.

December 1, 2020

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with your COVID update for Tuesday, December 1st.

For the period November 25th through noon today, December 1st, I have the following positive COVID-19 cases with no associated close contact quarantines to report:

1 Staff member at Frost Elementary
1 Staff member at Lawrence Brook Elementary
1 Student at Hammarskjold Middle School
1 Student at Churchill Junior High School
2 Staff members at Churchill Junior High School
2 Students at East Brunswick High School
1 Staff member at East Brunswick High School
1 Staff member in Community Programs

Additionally, we have 2 positive COVID-19 cases with close contacts. They are:

1 Student athlete with 22 associated close contacts
1 Bus Driver with 7 associated close contacts

These numbers do not fully represent the impact of Thanksgiving travel or gatherings. I expect we will see results from any of those exposures later this week and into next week.

Take care and be safe. I’ll talk to you later this week.

November 24, 2020

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with your COVID update for Tuesday, November 24th.

For the period November 20th through noon today, November 24th, I have the following to report:

1 positive staff member at Support Operations with 4 associated close contact quarantines.

The following are positive cases with no associated close contact quarantines:

2 positive students at Irwin Elementary School
1 positive staff member at Memorial Elementary School
1 positive student at Churchill Junior High School
1 positive student at East Brunswick High School
2 positive staff members at our Administration Building

If any student or staff tests positive for COVID-19 during our full remote instruction, it is imperative that they immediately contact their school’s nurse to report it. This will give us additional critical information that we will use to guide our return to hybrid instruction.

Just a reminder that tomorrow, Wednesday, November 25th, is a single session school day with no afternoon supplemental sessions.

Have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving.

November 20, 2020

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with your COVID update for Friday, November 20th.

During our remote instruction period, until January 11th, I will be reporting our positive COVID cases on Tuesdays and Fridays to reduce the number of calls families will be receiving.

For November 18th through today, November 20th at noon, I have the following to report:

1 positive EBHS staff member with no associated close contact quarantines.
1 positive CJHS student with no associated close contact quarantines.
1 positive administrator with 20 associated close contact quarantines.

If any student or staff tests positive for COVID-19 during our full remote instruction, it is imperative they need to immediately contact their school’s nurse to report it. This will give us additional critical information that we will use to guide our return to hybrid instruction.

November 17, 2020

Good Evening East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with your COVID update for Tuesday, November 17th.

In our administration building we have one staff positive COVID and two associated close contacts.

We have one student positive COVID who is a JV athlete, There are 16 associated close contacts on the team.

At Chittick Elementary School we have one student positive COVID. There are four staff and three students who are associated close contacts with this case.

Finally, at EBHS we have one student positive COVID who has been in our Remote Learning Model so there are no associated close contacts.

All affected individuals have immediately entered quarantine.

Have a safe evening.

November 15, 2020

Good Evening East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with your COVID update for Sunday, November 15th.

In last night's message I stated we still had contact tracing to complete on one exposure. As the result of one of the HMS staff, who had a lab positive COVID test result, 17 students and nine additional staff must quarantine as close contacts.

We are still waiting on test results for individuals who may affect the closure of CJHS or EBHS...or both. Under these circumstances, when I talk about school closures because of COVID, the closures are to remove nonessential occupants of the building so they may quarantine for 14 days and prevent the potential spread of COVID-19. During that quarantine period we are fully prepared to deliver instruction, provide services to students and distribute meals. During any school closure we will continue to operate in a remote format just as our students are doing, beginning tomorrow.

I hope you and your family remain well. Goodnight.

November 14, 2020

Hi EB,

It's Victor Valeski again with a clarification. Even if we need to close a school for a mandatory COVID quarantine, remote instruction will continue as we have already planned.

Sorry for the confusion.

November 14, 2020

Good Evening East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with your COVID update for Saturday, November 14th.

By the time you listen to this message, in its entirety, I believe that you will agree with me that it certainly has not been a good day in EB. The hard work to keep all our schools open, during remote learning, is about to evaporate.

At EBHS we have one varsity athlete with presumed positive COVID and 15 associated close contacts on the team.

In our administration building we have one staff member, lab confirmed, positive COVID with no close contacts.

At HMS we have one student, lab confirmed, positive COVID with 15 other students and 7 staff as close contacts. We also have one staff, lab confirmed, positive COVID with contact tracing not complete as of this message. This brings us to 4 unrelated positive COVID cases at HMS within 14 days and following NJ Department of Health guidelines HMS will be closed and all the staff in the facility will quarantine for 14 days.

As of tonight, we are waiting for COVID test results on staff members at CJHS and EBHS. If the results are positive it will necessitate the closure of CJHS or EBHS...maybe both...and the impacted staff will quarantine for 14 days as we are doing tonight for HMS.

At this juncture, all I can say is that I am certain I will be talking to you again tomorrow.

Good Night.

November 13, 2020

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with your COVID update for Friday, November 13th and it is not good news.

Unfortunately, as I feared, we are rapidly trending up in positive COVID cases. Today, I am reporting the following, lab confirmed, COVID cases:

One student positive at CJHS
Two student positives at EBHS, along with two associated close contacts
One staff positive at Central Elementary
One staff positive at Chittick Elementary, along with four administrators and three other instructional staff as close contacts
One staff positive at Frost Elementary
One staff positive at CJHS

Following our established protocol, all individuals are in quarantine.

I am asking for your assistance. It is imperative that even as we go full remote on Monday, November 16th, if any student or staff tests positive for COVID-19 they need to immediately contact their school’s nurse to report it. This will give us additional critical information that we will use to guide our return to hybrid instruction.

November 12, 2020

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with your COVID update for Thursday, November 12th.

Going forward, my COVID updates will come at 3:30 PM to avoid any future conflicts with afternoon supplemental instruction.

Today, we have one EBHS student, lab positive, COVID test result and one Hammarskjold student, lab positive, COVID rest result. There are no associated close contacts with either student because they both had already been in quarantine as close contacts themselves.

November 11, 2020

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with your COVID update for Wednesday, November 11th.

Today, I am reporting one staff member with a lab confirmed positive case of COVID-19 at EBHS. One additional high school staff and 10 high school students have been identified as associated close contacts. All individuals are in quarantine.

I know many in our community are still processing my announcement last evening about moving to 100% remote instruction until January 11, 2021. I need you to know I do not take these decisions lightly...I know the additional impacts they place on families.

Now, more than ever before, we need to bolster our community’s safety by continuing and reinforcing safe practices. If we do that, our return on January 11th will be refined to build on our past successes and retooled to fix what wasn’t the best it could be. Most importantly, I want our return to position us so we can maintain the safety we have established and the durability to complete this school year with an expanded hybrid structure.

If you thought you would be hearing less of me in our remote format, I’m guessing you might be wrong. I will continue to inform, encourage and cheer us on as we once again prepare for our return to hybrid instruction. We are EB! For me, at this moment in our district’s history and what will certainly be part of our collective legacy, that means Everyday Better.

November 10, 2020

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools...again. Tonight with a very important announcement.

Based on a comprehensive review of our current and forecasted positive COVID and close contact trends, EBPS will move to 100% remote instruction on Monday, November 16th. Our planned return to our Hybrid Instructional Model will be Monday, January 11, 2021.

I am making this difficult decision for the protection of all our schools’ populations. By moving quickly to remote learning for this period of time, which includes Thanksgiving and our winter recess, we can position ourselves for a safe return on January 11th.

There will be no supplemental instruction for the remainder of this week so each school’s administrative team can plan for a distribution of any student material needed during this remote period. During the remote period:

Meal distributions will continue.
There will be no Early Morning Program, After School Kids Program or Remote Learning Centers.
All other scheduled non-instructional school activities will continue at this time.

Each school’s principal will be communicating to their students and families with specifics about our shift from hybrid to full time remote instruction. Again, full time remote instruction begins Monday, November 16th and we will plan to return to hybrid instruction on Monday, January 11, 2021.

I know this is difficult news for some of our community. We are still here to answer your questions and address your concerns. We are EB. We have gotten this far together and together we can get through this difficult period in our recovery. Let’s make safe practices a habit to ensure our return on January 11th.

November 10, 2020

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with your critical COVID update for Tuesday, November 10th.

Today, I have both positive COVID’s and close contacts to report.

At CJHS:

One staff positive COVID lab result with six additional staff and four students as associated close contacts.

One Remote Learning Model student with a positive COVID result who has not been in school with no associated close contacts.

At EBHS:

One student positive COVID lab result with five additional students and five staff as associated close contacts.

It is important to note that all the affected individuals at both CJHS and EBHS have been immediately quarantined.

I believe our sudden increase in positive COVID test results and associated close contacts is directly related to our school break last week. I want to applaud the EB community for your vigilant efforts in helping to keep our schools’ communities safe up to this point.

This morning we began a critical reassessment of how we can continue the safety of face to face instruction as part of our Hybrid Learning Model. As I said in yesterday’s message, keeping our students and staff safe and healthy is my top priority right now. After I have evaluated additional cases anticipated to be reported tonight and through tomorrow morning, I want the community to be prepared that any changes to our schools’ operations will be formalized and communicated to you by this Friday morning, November 13th, at the latest.

Because of today’s reported cases, consolidating secondary teams planned for November 17th will be postponed and the current model will continue. Additionally, we will postpone expanding the frequency of instruction for English Language Learners and special education students. Their current model will continue, as well.

Please understand that I am absolutely aware that any changes to our schools’ operations will impact families and their childcare accommodations but my decisions will be based on protecting the safety of all our schools’ populations, while preserving our ability to complete our school year with the same Hybrid and Remote Learning Model structures we started in September.

November 3, 2020

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with your COVID update, Election Day, Tuesday, November 3rd.

We had a staff self-report of a lab confirmed positive COVID test result in our Community Programs. We identified students and staff at Bowne Elementary School and staff at Central Elementary School as "close contacts" because the individual worked in both schools last week. In total, eight students and four staff members will quarantine as close contacts.

Today’s report brings us to a total of 18 positive, self reported, cases of COVID-19 in our schools’ communities. Through contact tracing, we confirmed that all exposures were outside of our school environment and immediate quarantining has allowed us to continue school operations. I will be evaluating exposure trends after students and staff return next week. That analysis will guide my decisions affecting school operations for the remainder of 2020.

Stay safe and continue safe practices.

November 1, 2020

Good Evening East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with a late COVID update for Sunday, November 1st.

A few hours ago we received a report of one staff positive COVID test result from Chittick Elementary School. We have identified nine students and seven other staff who are close contacts. All close contacts have been notified and all affected individuals will quarantine.

I want to reassure the Chittick School community and the greater East Brunswick Public Schools’ community that we utilize comprehensive contact tracing and immediate quarantining in our COVID response protocol.

Let me also take this opportunity to restate that immediate self-reporting of a potential COVID exposure, as a close contact, or reporting a lab positive COVID test result is absolutely critical in maintaining the safety of our schools’ populations. Without immediate self-report notifications our continued quest to safely keep our schools open will be in jeopardy.

October 30, 2020

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with your update for Friday, October 30th.

I have two later breaking self-reports of student positive COVID's. One at CJHS with no additional close contacts and one at EBHS with close contacts; six teachers and six students. All affected individuals have been notified and will quarantine.

I want to share where we are as an organization, how we got here and where we are going. Governor Murphy signed Executive Order 192, which will become effective at 6 AM on Thursday, November 5th. In summary, it defines all the safety provisions that EBPS must implement during this Public Health Emergency and State of Emergency. I have previously reported to you that we have created safe environments in all of our schools and facilities. Needless to say, in our efforts to accomplish that goal, we have already met every requirement outlined in E.O. 192.

We can have the best plan ever created (and I think ours is really good) but our true success is measured every day on how we implement that plan. As you can imagine, it takes a team of talented people to make this all come together. I am honestly humbled to work with such an amazing group of professionals: teachers and assistants who deliver the instruction, aides who assist, bus drivers, custodians and building maintenance, school security, child nutrition and all the nurses who perform the contact tracing when we have reports of exposures. All of this is supported by our Board of Education and administrative team, along with their support staff who are truly invested in meeting the needs of every student...every day. Let me brag for a moment about another part of our team...that is all of you. Without your support what we have accomplished, up to this point, would not be possible.

I want to wish everyone a restful break next week but our return is critical. It will define where we will go and how fast we will get there...safely. Positive COVID cases outside of EBPS are rising. Breaks like next week, offer opportunities for gathering, socializing and traveling. I know you may think I am relentless but I cannot overemphasize that safe practices outside of schools ensure our safety in schools. If you travel and need to quarantine upon your return, please do it. We will be glad to welcome your children in our Remote Learning Model during that time.

Enjoy this time to recharge and we will see you on November 9th.

October 29, 2020

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools. It’s 2 PM and time for another update...this one for Thursday, October 29th.

Today, we have one lab confirmed positive case of COVID-19 at CJHS and we are working on a presumed positive case at Memorial Elementary School. In both cases, students had not been in their respective schools for an extended period of time so there were no “close contacts” who were identified through our contact tracing.

Only the affected students will need to quarantine and I wish them both a complete recovery.

October 28, 2020

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with an update for Wednesday, October 28th.

We have one student lab confirmed positive case of COVID-19 at CJHS. This was an exposure outside of EBPS and because this student had not been in school for an extended period of time, no “close contacts” are associated with this case.

You can follow our progress on our COVID Dashboard, on the homepage of the district’s website, at ebnet.org.

October 27, 2020

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with what is quickly becoming your daily update...this one for Tuesday, October 27th.

Early this morning we had a self-report of a high school student with a positive case of COVID-19. The student is in our Remote Learning Model and has not been in school. Nonetheless, I wish this student and every other member of our community who has contracted this virus a complete recovery.

Even though we do not have other school related “close contacts” to report, we do take every measure to ensure our contact tracing uncovers any interactions with other EB students outside of our school operations.

Let me assure our community that, once again, we have avoided person to person transmission of COVID-19 within our schools and they remain safe places to be. It is clear, (you can see this on our COVID Dashboard, posted on the homepage of our website), that the virus transmission affecting our students is occurring outside of school and our challenge everyday is keeping it out of our school environment.

In addition to rapid self reporting, our quick and aggressive quarantining of identified “close contacts” is allowing us to safely continue school operations in spite of multiple reported positive COVID cases. To date, our identified “close contacts” have presented as being completely healthy and our quarantine protocol to isolate each of these individuals for 14 days, while they monitor themselves for COVID symptoms, continues to prove that we can keep the remainder of our schools’ populations safe.

In fact, since we have opened schools, we have no known positive cases of COVID-19 among our quarantined “close contacts”. Individuals who have been in close contact switched to remote learning and have safely reentered schools at the conclusion of their quarantines.

Our system is working but it will only remain that way if each of us continues established safe practices...wear a mask, wash and sanitize your hands frequently, maintain social distancing when possible, monitor your family’s health, if your child is in the Hybrid Learning Model do not send them to school, in person, if anyone in the family unit is ill or symptomatic of COVID or the flu...and of course, rapid self reporting so we can initiate immediate contact tracing and quarantining.

Thank you for being on the team to help keep EBPS safe!

October 26, 2020

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools with updates for Monday, October 26th. (This is a corrected copy!...sorry)

Today, we immediately responded to two student presumptive positive COVID-19 cases. This resulted in 24 students and 12 staff being identified as “close contacts” between Irwin Elementary School and Churchill Junior High School. All of these individuals will be quarantined.

While these numbers appear large it is important to emphasize that by our aggressive quarantine protocols we have avoided any person to person transmission of COVID-19 within the EBPS community. To date, all positive COVID cases have resulted from contact outside of schools.

With the approaching student breaks, November 2nd-6th and Thanksgiving, November 26th and 27th, I know we will have challenges returning from each event. If you have traveled to a state or country that is listed as a destination that requires quarantine when you return to NJ...please follow those guidelines like our school district operations depend on it...because, frankly, it does.

I know avoiding opportunities outside of your family or social bubble is hard during this time of year, especially as we all begin to move back inside as the weather gets colder. Please remember that rapid self-reporting has been our strength. If anyone in your family is ill or has flu-like symptoms, do not send your school aged, Hybrid Learning Model, children to school until they have been evaluated by a physician and are cleared to return to school.

Depending on circumstances that change by the hour, I want to prepare you that we may need to make operational adjustments for a school, multiple schools or even the entire district if we begin to experience an increase in lab confirmed positive cases among our schools’ populations.

One last reminder, forms to change your child’s learning model in Parent Access close tomorrow morning at 9 AM. You can move from Remote to Hybrid or Hybrid to Remote and if you are not making a change at this time you do not need to do anything.

October 24, 2020

Good Evening East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with updates for Saturday, October 24th.

I am sorry I am way past my typical 2 PM deadline. We just completed notifications after we were informed earlier today that members of one of our varsity teams were in “close contact” during a competition this past Tuesday, with an opposing player who began feeling symptomatic the day after the game and has now tested positive for COVID-19.

All of our identified athletes are being quarantined as “close contacts” and as of today, none of them have tested positive for COVID.

Immediate precautionary actions like this protect the rest of the team and our schools' populations. Understandably, I have intentionally avoided identifying the team affected to protect identification of the athletes in quarantine. All individuals directly impacted by this event have been personally contacted. Again, this is a “close contact” protocol and we do not have any known positive COVID-19 cases among any EB students resulting from our team’s competition.

While I have you, just a reminder that if you are making a learning model change for your child, and only if you are making a change, whether from the Remote to the Hybrid Learning Model or from Hybrid to the Remote Learning Model…you still have time to make changes but the forms, in Parent Access, will close at 9 AM, this coming Tuesday, October 27th.

October 22, 2020

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools, with your update for Thursday, October 22nd.

Last evening we had our first positive COVID case within our Administration Building. The individual, along with the department they work in, will quarantine for 14 days. Because of our preplanning, the entire department can work remotely and district operations will not be impacted. We also have one high school student quarantining as a "close contact" to a positive COVID case outside of school.

Yesterday the CDC revised their definition of a “close contact”. The clarification now states an accumulation of contacts that add up to 15 minutes or more over a 24 hour period, all occurring less than 6 feet, with an individual known to have a positive COVID-19 lab test result, makes a "close contact". We immediately began applying the new CDC guidance standard.

As always, I am committed to keeping you informed and I appreciate that you will do the same for us. If you have been in the presence of someone you just discovered has a positive case of COVID, you are a "close contact" if your interactions were within six feet and you think the total time of all your encounters was 15 minutes or longer...and you will need to quarantine for 14 days. Beyond testing and wearing masks, rapid communication reinforces our defense against the spread of COVID within our school community.

Thank you for everything you have done so far to help us create and maintain a safe environment in EBPS. Let's keep it up!

October 20, 2020

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools with a critical update....one that you have been waiting for.

As promised in our Restart and Recovery Plan to Reopen our schools, our Learning Model selection form will be reopened in Parent Access this evening if you wish to change from the Remote Learning Model to the Hybrid Learning Model...or if you wish to change from Hybrid Learning Model to the Remote Learning Model with an effective date of November 17th, which is the beginning of the second marking period. If you are not making a change at this time you do not need to do anything.

Concurrently, we are planning to combine secondary (HMS, CJHS and HS) Hybrid Learning Model Teams 1 and 3 and will also combine secondary Hybrid Learning Model Teams 2 and 4. This will allow hybrid students to attend two days, be virtual two days then repeat the cycle.

Currently, secondary hybrid students attend two days and are virtual for six days. Effective November 17th, secondary hybrid students will attend two days, be virtual two days, attend two days and be virtual for two days during the same window of time. This will double secondary students’ face to face time in the Hybrid Learning Model but still preserve the sibling alignment built into our structure so older siblings can be home with younger siblings. All other features of our instructional day, Grab and Go meals, as well Early Morning Program and After School Kids offerings remain unchanged.

This is very important...combining secondary teams will be deferred if we have any increase in positive COVID cases among our EBPS population or we encounter any person to person transmission of COVID within our schools’ communities, during the two weeks prior to November 17th,

Here is the recap of the important dates:

October 20th - Learning Model Selection Forms will be reopened (If you are not making a change at this time you do not need to do anything)

October 27th - Learning Model Selection Forms will be closed at 9 AM.

November 10th - Communication regarding assignment of students moving from remote to hybrid will be sent to families.

November 17th - Second marking period begins with combined secondary teams 1 and 3, along with combined secondary teams 2 and 4, if the rate of positive COVID cases remains minimal and contained from spread within EBPS.

October 15, 2020

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools with a COVID update for today, Thursday, October 15th.

Earlier today we had a self-report of a positive COVID-19 result for a Lawrence Brook student. They had not been in school since October 8th because they were already quarantined as “close contact” to a family member.

Now, because of this positive result seven students and six teachers, all who provided support in the classroom at varying times, will quarantine.

I never like reporting another positive case of COVID. I wish our student’s healthy return to school and want to highlight how the effectiveness of rapid self-reporting is allowing us to continue operating schools.

Increased opportunities for travel and gatherings are upon us. Continue to monitor your family’s health. If anyone in your family is ill and your children attend the Hybrid Learning Model, keep them out of school until they have been evaluated and cleared by a physician.

I want to thank our community. Let’s keep up the good work. It is working for us.

October 14, 2020

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools. Please allow me to share two important pieces of information.

Parental and Staff permissions for our random COVID-19 testing program pilot with Middlesex County are available now. A parent letter describing the program is attached. Parents and guardians can access the forms for their children on Parent Access. A separate letter and form will be sent to our staff.

The purpose of this program is to identify COVID-19 positives early and begin quarantining so we can protect the rest of our student and staff populations. This is important as we continue to plan for greater frequency of face to face instruction for our Hybrid Learning Model students early in the second marking period.

If you are an athletic parent this piece of information will be important to you. I am aware of rumors circulating throughout our community about the future of athletics in EB. I have not made any recommendation to modify, alter, suspend or discontinue any athletic offering. There is no vote scheduled before the Board and none can be taken without a recommendation from me.

As you can imagine, I monitor data that supports my decisions. As I stated in a recent media report about athletics, it is my responsibility to keep the Board of Education informed. As I have shared with the Board, to date among 673 athletes, we have not had a single student athlete to athlete COVID transmission.

So why is this important? As we are about to begin Winter sports season with indoor practices and competitions, adhering to our established athletic safety protocols, without exception, is the only way we can successfully continue our path to our full recovery of all school activities.

Imagine it like this...our excellence in Academics, Athletics and Arts surrounded by an Atmosphere of trust in each other that we will continue the safety practices and rapid self-reporting we have established to protect everyone’s health. If we do that, we will continue to accomplish the improbable...because we are EB and that is what we do.

Attachments:
messages/attachments/6ad7432fc1dad49974df9d390ceb07db/Voluntary_COVID-19_Testing10142020.pdf

October 13, 2020

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools with an update for today, Tuesday, October 13th.

Late this morning we were notified that a high school student tested positive for COVID-19 and will be quarantined for 14 days. They had not been in school for a significant amount of time so we do not have any subsequent “close contacts” to report.

As with every case of COVID, I wish our student a complete and healthy recovery. I will use this opportunity to reaffirm again the importance of self reporting. It is working for us and our continued safe operation of all our schools and athletics is dependent on continued, timely, self-reporting and quarantining. Our next student and staff break is November 2nd-6th. If you are traveling to quarantine states, identified on NJ.gov, or leaving the country you must quarantine upon your return and especially before any return to school. Working together we can remain safe and continue all of our operations.

Have a great rest of your day.

October 9, 2020

Good Evening East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools.

We have just been informed that one of our varsity athletes has a lab confirmed positive case of COVID-19. The team will quarantine for our mandatory 14 day period. The student athlete has not been part of our hybrid learning model and has not been in school.

Based on guidance I received yesterday from the Middlesex Department of Health and CDC, we will no longer need to quarantine any contacts of “close contacts” for 72 hours so our quarantine group will be confined exclusively to our varsity team.

Again, we have one athlete with a confirmed positive case of COVID-19 and the rest of the team members are being quarantined as “close contacts” per NJDOH and CDC guidelines.

Additionally, we were informed today that Hatikvah International Academy Charter School in EB is moving to remote instruction until October 26th because two of their students tested positive for COVID-19. I confirmed that neither student is an EB resident nor did they ride our district provided buses.

This serves as an important reminder for all of us as we begin another weekend of activities outside of school...if your child or any member of your family is exhibiting any symptoms of COVID-19 or even the flu, please keep your child home from school until they have been examined and cleared by a physician. Thank you for what you are continuing to do, as a community, to ensure we can keep our schools open.

Have a safe weekend.

October 8, 2020

Good Morning East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools.

This morning’s call is entirely informational. You may have heard yesterday that EBPS is partnering with Middlesex County and East Brunswick Township to offer random COVID-19 testing. We will only test students with parental consent or staff with their consent. Consent will continue throughout the 2020-2021 school year unless it is revoked. I will communicate next week when we launch the consent forms for both students and staff.

By next week we are putting two important pieces of information on our website:

We will populate our own COVID-19 dashboard so our school community has accurate, real-time information about active COVID cases impacting our schools and associated 14 day quarantines for identified “close contacts”. (less than six feet of distancing for 15 minutes or longer with person having a lab confirmed positive COVID-19 test)

We will be publishing our air quality test results, from an independent consultant, that certified our air quality was safe for school opening.

For our Churchill families, school will continue in virtual format again tomorrow because of teacher staffing impacts resulting from quarantines this week. Again, Mr. Hanas, Principal, will share specific details for CJHS students and families later today.

For our Memorial Elementary families, we have a complete internet and phone outage caused by Comcast work in that area. They are working to immediately resolve the outages.

Have a great rest of your day.

Attachments:
EB_Schools_COVID-19_Testing_Pilot_Program-_Press_Release_FINAL_10.7.20.pdf (181.5 KB)

October 7, 2020

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools with an important EBPS update. I am sorry this messaging is later than the 2 PM time frame I previously shared with you.

Late today, we were notified that members of one of our athletic teams were in “close contact” with a player from the opposing team, during competition this week, who tested positive for COVID-19 today. This will require the affected members of that team to quarantine for 14 days.

It is important to note that our student athletes are being quarantined as “close contacts” and we are not aware of any positive COVID-19 cases among any of the EB team members at this time.

We have a significant number of teachers who had been contacts of those “close contacts” this past Tuesday and they must quarantine for 72 hours. Because we will have a shortage of teachers who can be in the building for the face to face component of our hybrid learning model. CJHS will be closed for in-person learning activities but will operate from a virtual learning environment tomorrow, Thursday, October 8th for all students and staff.

Specific details for the Churchill students and staff regarding tomorrow will immediately follow this message from Mr. Hanas, Principal CJHS.

October 5, 2020

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools with another EBPS update.

To the extent that I can, any communications related to positive COVID-19 and associated “close contact” notifications will be sent at 2 PM on the days they occur.

Today I must report:

A confirmed positive COVID test result for a Frost student.

Additionally, we have presumptive positive COVID’s for one Churchill student and one high school student.

When we identify “close contacts” we are following current CDC guidelines...less than six feet of distancing from a person with a positive COVID-19 test result for 15 minutes or longer. Close contacts for today’s events are:

Frost: 6 students and 3 staff

HMS: 2 additional staff from this past weekend’s exposure.

Churchill: 14 students and 16 staff

EBHS: 11 students and 8 staff

Among Athletics: 17 student athletes will quarantine for 14 days and an additional 53 student athletes will quarantine for 72 hours because they were contacts of “close contacts”.

I want to assure the EB community that we have taken immediate proactive measures to quarantine all “close contacts” relative to today’s cases. The number of identified students and staff is significant because it includes two presumptive cases that we are acting on out of extreme caution and for the protection of our schools’ populations.

None of the positive or presumptive COVID cases reported today are the result of person to person transmissions within our schools. We have documented that these transmissions have occurred outside of schools.

Today represents the scope of challenges we must overcome to continue operating our schools. I am confident, as we rapidly address positive COVID-19 cases in our schools and quarantine all known “close contacts”, we can continue to maintain the safe environment we have established in EBPS.

October 4, 2020

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools.

This morning we completed notification of impacted students and teachers after receiving a self-report of a positive case of COVID-19 with a Hammarskjold Middle School student. In total, 14 students and nine teachers will quarantine for our mandatory 14 day period.

I want to acknowledge the prompt notification by the impacted family. Their quick action was exactly the response needed to ensure that we can continue to operate all our schools safely. In this case and along with every other one we will have in the future...and undoubtedly we will have more, I pledge our support to our students, their families and our staff...so they may recover quickly and completely, continue to stay connected to their classes and return to school when it is safe to do so.

Thank you for your continued vigilance. Colder weather and fewer opportunities to socially distance outside will bring new challenges. Together, let’s continue the practices we have proven to keep ourselves safe.

Have a great rest of your weekend.

October 1, 2020

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools...happily, with your September update!

After opening our schools and remaining open for the entire month of September, I want to thank the EB community for your resolve and commitment to keeping our student and staff populations safe. Self reporting of “close contacts”, positive cases of COVID-19 in your families or travel to quarantine states or countries are absolutely critical as we begin planning for the next phase of our recovery.

As promised in our Restart and Recovery Plan to Reopen our Schools, families have the opportunity to reselect the learning model for their child for the second marking period which begins November 17th. If it helps in your decision making...during the first month of school we have had one confirmed positive student COVID case and one false positive staff COVID case. Our contact identification and tracing is working.

As you can see, it is through our collective efforts as a school and community that we are able to achieve such a significant outcome...but our work is far from over. As we begin to reintroduce more students to schools' populations, our continued vigilance becomes even more important.

I feel confident that we have created a safe environment in EBPS. If you would like to reselect your child’s learning model, moving from full time remote to hybrid, we are ready to welcome them for face to face instruction. We are requesting all changes to your child’s learning model selection be completed in the Parent Portal. A new form allowing your changes will be active the week of October 19th and all forms requesting changes must be completed by the end of the school day, October 26th. These changes will be effective November 17th.

If you are not making changes to your child’s learning model selection you do not need to complete any form at this time.

I wish you all a great evening.

September 22, 2020

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools.

Today, I must report we have three confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 impacting EBPS. It is extremely important for you to know these positive COVID cases were not from transmissions within our schools. They occurred outside of school. I believe we have created very safe environments in all our facilities, with robust cleaning and sanitizing, supported by our well thought out protocols.

One case had direct contact with selected teachers and students on Team 3 at EBHS and that resulted in 10 teachers and 27 students being quarantined as “close contacts”. This illustrates the far reaching impact a singular positive COVID case can have on our schools and our ability to safely remain open.

Additionally, we have two cases from local athletic teams, not related to EB schools, testing positive for COVID-19 and they have in turn created “close contacts” at Central, Chittick, Lawrence Brook and Memorial Elementary Schools, as well as Hammarskjold Middle School which includes our ELA, Before Care and After School Kids programs.

All impacted staff and students have been notified and placed in quarantine. I cannot overemphasize the critical nature of immediate reporting of either positive COVID-19 test results or "close contact" situations outside of school. If your child or family has been in the presence of a known positive COVID-19 individual or family, keep your children home and call us immediately so we can guide you with next steps for your child’s reentry to school. If your child presents flu like symptoms please keep them and their siblings home until they have been evaluated and cleared by a physician.

Thank you for your continued vigilance and support in this critical effort.

September 14, 2020

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools.

Today is a continuation of my ongoing effort to keep you informed about our recovery to reopen our schools.

Between Friday evening and this morning we have had additional self reports of “close contacts” with persons having diagnosed positive cases of COVID-19. One staff member at Central Elementary along with students at Chittick and Memorial Elementary Schools have reported.

I anticipate that “close contact” notifications will become one of our new routine occurrences so I wanted to share our district protocol going forward. Notifications of “close contacts” will be communicated by each building principal to whomever is appropriate for each particular circumstance.

Known positive COVID-19 cases, within our school community, will be treated with the highest priority for school community communication directly from me. For everyone’s health and safety please continue to immediately contact your child’s principal to inform us of a "close contact" or a diagnosed positive case of COVID-19.

If your child, or someone in your household, is experiencing flu-like symptoms please keep children home until they have been evaluated by a physician and have been cleared to return to school. It will take all of us working together each day to protect our school population and continue to keep EBPS open. Thank you for continuing to partner with us in this critical effort.

Have a great rest of your day.

September 11, 2020

Good afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools.

Earlier this morning we had two separate high school student self reports with “close contacts”, of individuals testing positive for COVID-19, outside of school. Close contact is defined by the CDC as being less than six feet from a person testing positive for COVID-19 for 15 minutes or longer. Following our protocol, the students have moved to virtual learning until their 14 day quarantine periods expire. All EBPS staff who had contact with these students this past Tuesday and Wednesday have been notified. We believe the risk in these cases are minimal but we treat each case like these with the highest degree of caution. Again, there is no report of any student testing positive for COVID-19. These are two independent self reported close contacts.

Another reason for my communication is to reinforce that self reporting is working and if we build a culture that promotes immediate notification of any “close contact”, we will have the capacity to keep our entire school district population safer...and that means we can keep our schools open. This directly impacts our ability to begin to consolidate cohorts and bring more students into schools when state guidance and science permits us to do so.

As we complete our first week, thank you to everyone for supporting our collective efforts to reopen East Brunswick Public Schools. As I visit schools I see everyone following the plan we created. That makes me proud and as a community you should be proud too because you are integral partners in our continued success. Help us by being vigilant over the weekend and into next week. Early notification of close contacts equals a safer school environment.

Have a safe weekend.

September 9, 2020

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools.

We are aggressively following our established protocols when a student or staff member has been identified as a “close contact” to someone who tested positive for Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) and attended school before we received notification. We coordinate closely with public health officials and our own district physician, following CDC, state, and local health department guidance in order to assure the health and safety of our community.

Today we were notified that several students, representing several schools, were “close contacts” to someone testing positive for COVID-19 outside of EBPS and they attended schools yesterday, September 8th, as part of hybrid cohorts. As a precaution, those students and their siblings will quarantine for 14 days and participate virtually. They must remain symptom free before returning to school.

At this point none of these students have tested positive for COVID-19. They are being treated as “close contacts”. According to the Middlesex Department of Health, any potential for COVID-19 transmission is mitigated by the precautions we have in place - wearing masks, six feet of distancing and frequent cleaning.

In fact, cleaning and disinfecting of all exposed areas has been completed. Each school is also taking precautions to prevent the introduction and spread of viruses and other germs and is cleaning frequently touched surfaces daily.

We understand the level of concern regarding COVID-19. You should continue to follow the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention promoted safeguards, such as:

Staying home when you are sick;
Washing hands often with soap for at least 20 seconds;
Covering coughs and sneezes and properly disposing of tissues;
Limiting close contact with people who are sick and not sharing food, drinks and utensils;
Practicing social distancing (staying at least 6 feet apart);
Wearing a face covering while in school; and
Continuing to monitor your health for symptoms.

As always, we appreciate your support and cannot overemphasize the importance of immediate notification if you or a member of your family has been in close contact with a person testing positive for COVID-19. In fact, our school district success in remaining open depends on immediate notification of "close contact" or positive COVID-19 test results.

You can assist us by remaining vigilant but sensible in your approach to dealing with this health concern. We do not have any immediate cause for concern but I thought it was important that you hear the precautions we are taking directly from me.

September 4, 2020

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools.

Here we are, the last workday before students return to the new school year...a year like no other before. There are so many people with sweat equity invested in our opening. Our school board (who met at least weekly before this week) teachers and nurses (who have been in this week preparing), support, maintenance and custodial staff, bus drivers, School Security Officers, administrators and especially each of you...representing the community we serve. Without your support our re-opening would not have been possible.

I know and accept the enormous responsibility for what we are about to accomplish. We have the plan...the time has come to implement the plan. We will do it safely...

EDI Indoor Air Quality Evaluation for EBPS

with the flexibility to make immediate and thoughtful decisions that improve the teaching and learning environment for our students and staff.

Thank you East Brunswick Community...We are ready to go!

Welcome Back Video

August 29, 2020

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools...this time in response to a media article published this morning that questioned our safe return to school.

Here are the facts on our EBPS ventilation system:

We have always been proactive in assessing, evaluating and improving our indoor air quality and we will continue that endeavor as an ongoing practice beyond the restart of our schools.

We worked hard to exceed every checklist item on our Restart and Recovery Plan to Reopen Schools...because every one of our students and staff, as well as the entire East Brunswick Community deserve that level of attention and commitment, especially to environmental safety. The state's approval of our plan solidifies that commitment from me and every member of my administrative team...every single day.

There has been a lot of discussion about the type of filters we use in our district HVAC systems. We always have used the highest rated filters that meet each of our system's operational specifications. HVAC filters have Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value or (MERV) as defined by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).

No filter can act as a singular prevention against COVID-19. Filter upgrades remain possible components of a comprehensive approach to environmental safety if they do not impede the critical indoor/outdoor air exchange rates of the HVAC systems where they are installed.

In addition to upgrading all our facility Roof Top Units (RTU’s) from MERV 8 to MERV 13 filtration, we continue to exceed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidance https://www.epa.gov/coronavirus/indoor-air-and-coronavirus-covid-19 to ensure the highest environmental safety standards in all our facilities by:

Reducing Room Occupation…Our highest occupation, as we start school, will be less than 25% in elementary schools.
Wearing masks. For our population, 100% of the occupants will wear masks; 100% of the time.
Maintaining 6’ distancing.
Cleaning, on a routine schedule, all classroom and facility hard and touch surfaces.
Vacuuming all floor surfaces with a HEPA vacuum cleaner.
Electrostatically spray cleaning rooms with a hospital grade disinfectant.
Maintaining HVAC unit operations to ensure optimum indoor/outdoor air exchange rates.
Practicing and reinforcing routine hand washing and sanitizing. We have installed portable hand wash units in all schools to augment our restroom facilities. Disinfecting spray and hand sanitizer are in all classrooms.

I wanted you to know our buildings exceed the published safety protocols for occupancy by students and staff and we look forward to welcoming back our students who have selected the Hybrid Learning Model.

August 27, 2020

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools.

I want to provide a few updates as we approach the opening of school.

Student forms that need to be completed annually are now available through Parent Access. Both Hybrid and Virtual students need to complete all forms by Thursday, September 3rd. If you do not have internet access, please reach out to your child’s school for assistance.

Tomorrow, Friday, August 28th, elementary parents will be able to access homeroom teachers and student rotation groups for in person learners, through Parent Access, after 3 PM and secondary schools, grades 6-12, will send information on rotation group assignments, for in person learners, by the end of the day.

Next week, secondary schools will notify parents when student schedules will be available on Parent Access and all parents will receive information from their child's principal with information about the first days of school.

August 25, 2020

Good Morning East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski Superintendent of Schools and Danielle Blalock, Supervisor of Student Services.

The East Brunswick Public School Nurses are working to ensure safety protocols for the opening of schools. Please enjoy the video, my department created, which will help you and your family understand our expectations and safety protocols that will remain in place as we come back into our schools and buildings.

The link to the YouTube video is in the email associated with this message.

https://youtu.be/aIxWWGzDQiY

The health and wellness of all students and staff remain our number one priority during our recovery.

We wish you all a great afternoon and rest of your summer.

August 18, 2020

Good Afternoon East Brunswick Community,

This is Victor Valeski, Superintendent of Schools.

We clearly heard from members of the school community at last Thursday’s board meeting, the desire to have a “town hall” type forum to discuss our upcoming school year...whether it is the "In-Person Hybrid" learning model or "Full-time Remote" learning model.

Please join representatives of the administrative team at our Education Breakout, tomorrow, Wednesday, August 19th from 6-8 PM, on YouTube at https://youtu.be/ahg_hmLpuFY

The link will also be posted at the top of the homepage of our website.

You will be able to use the “chat” feature in YouTube to ask questions in our moderated community forum. Don’t forget to check the Frequently Asked Questions in our Restart & Recovery Plan to Reopen Schools tile on the homepage of our website. A variety of questions, with answers, have already been posted there and we intend to keep that feature active for your immediate reference.

Because the deadline to respond to each child’s Restart and Recovery Plan selection was extended to yesterday, Monday, August 17th, cohort placements will now be distributed the last week of August.

I also wanted to share the following important administrative changes in EBPS:

Matthew Hanas, former Assistant Principal at East Brunswick High School, is the incoming Principal for Churchill Junior High School; Mark Sutor will continue to assist the transition until his retirement in January.
Russell Petronko, former Assistant Principal at Hammarskjold Middle School, is the incoming Assistant Principal for East Brunswick High School.
Christine Sce, former Assistant Principal at East Brunswick High School, is the new Principal for Chittick Elementary School.

Victor Valeski,

Superintendent of Schools

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