Positive Coronavirus Tests Close Pascack Valley High School

HILLSDALE, NJ — Pascack Valley High School will implement full remote learning after two people tested positive for the coronavirus, forcing more than 80 others to quarantine, the district announced Friday.

Superintendent Erik Gundersen announced the first positive test result on Oct. 14, and later notified the district that a second student tested positive.

According to Gundersen, the person was exposed to the virus during a "non-school related" event the previous weekend.

"This individual was in close contact with a largely different group of people within our community," said Gundersen.

The school operated in a fully remote manner Thursday and Friday of last week before announcing that the school would be closed until Oct. 28 once more than 70 students and 10 staff members were instructed to quarantine.

According to the district, the decision was made after discussing with local health officials, and considering issues that would arise due to the volume of employees forced to quarantine.

Due to the full remote nature of the school's new model, athletics and other extracurricular events have also been canceled through Oct. 28, though the district indicated there is a chance some events can be rescheduled.

On Monday, the district announced that Pascack Hills High School will be remote on Tuesday after a positive coronavirus test, meaning both schools in the Pascack Valley Regional High School District are now operating remotely.

Students from Hillsdale and River Vale attend Pascack Valley while students from Montvale and Woodcliff Lake attend Pascack Hills.