Toms River Schools Add Air Purifiers, Urge Spring Break Caution

TOMS RIVER, NJ — When students and staff in the Toms River Regional School District return to classrooms after spring break, they will return to classrooms that have been outfitted to help fight the spread of the coronavirus, the district said.

But those added measures don't mean people should throw caution to the wind over the holiday week, Interim Superintendent Thomas Gialanella said.

In a letter to staff and families ahead of the holiday break, Gialanella said the district has added air purifiers to the intermediate and high school classrooms, and has purchased new desk barriers for the elementary classrooms.

"Classrooms in our intermediate and high schools have been outfitted with the Vollara Air & Surface ActivePure air filtration systems," Gialanella said. The system is designed to kill surface and airborne viruses, including COVID-19.

All classroom air filters in pre-K through grade 12 have been treated with a Bioprotect application that provides 90 days of air purification.

In addition, the district purchased more clear desk dividers to replace white dividers being used in the kindergarten-through-second grade classrooms. Those were expected to arrive before spring break started.

"We will continue to evaluate the effectiveness of each of these accommodations," Gialanella said, as well as seeking guidance from the CDC, the state and district's nurses before making any revisions to its plan.

The district has been holding in-person in instruction for four days a week in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

"We consider all of these steps — as well as our well-documented effort to vaccinate hundreds of our staff members — to be leading us in the right direction," he said.

Gialanella expressed concern about rising cases of COVID-19 nationally and an increase in the number of Toms River Regional students in quarantine in the district — some with to COVID-19 symptoms, others from testing positive, or being in close contact with someone who has tested positive.

"We ask for your diligence in ensuring that children are kept at home when either they or a family member are presenting symptoms," he said. "This action can help us keep the contact tracing circle as small as possible."

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