Howell K-8 Schools Switch To Remote Learning Until January

HOWELL, NJ - In-person classes are suspended for all K-8 Howell students through the new year, according to district officials.

In a Tuesday video message posted to the Howell Board of Education’s YouTube channel, Superintendent of Schools Joseph Isola announced that all schools in the district will operate on a remote schedule starting Dec. 16 until Jan. 8, 2021 (watch the full announcement below):

“I think this reset moment is good for our community, I’m looking forward to returning to in-person come Jan. 11. I will work tirelessly to deliver that,” Isola said.

In his remarks, Isola added that, as the region has been classified by the New Jersey Department of Heath’s as a high-risk Orange Zone, district students and staff that are symptomatic - as well as any direct contacts with symptomatic individuals - must be excluded from in-person learning.

Of the 4,500 students and 700 staff members in the district, just over 1,000 individuals have been barred from attending in-person, a situation that has since become “difficult to manage … to make sure we have professionals and support staff in place to meet the needs of the children,” according to Isola.

“This is extremely unfortunate but necessary news that I deliver you. It’s not something I wanted to do, I think everyone understands my commitment to in-person instruction and I believe what’s best for children, for their social and emotional well being, for their academic needs, all while maintaining virtual options for families that feel more comfortable in that setting,” Isola added.

“I’m really disappointed that we have to do this, but it has become necessary and it’s in the best interest of our school district … I am absolutely confident that this is what is best for our school district at this point.”