Coronavirus: North Rockland Schools Announce Holiday Pause

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — North Rockland school officials have decided to take education in the district remote from Thanksgiving deep into January — becoming the first district in the region to do so, The Journal News reported.

District officials warned parents last week that the plan to stop in-school instruction temporarily was under consideration. They called it a "Holiday Pause" in a message on their website.

"A pause of in-person instruction during the holiday season would allow North Rockland families to make their own decisions regarding isolation, testing, and social gatherings without negatively impacting our schools," Superintendent Kris Felicello wrote. "Pre and post-Halloween COVID data has provided evidence that this is a prudent decision as the District has had nine positive COVID cases before Halloween and 31 cases following the holiday."

"I see this as a marathon rather than a sprint," he continued. "Pausing now will better suit us to prepare to remain open for in-person instruction for the remainder of the school year."

The Board of Education decided Saturday to take the step, Felicello told The Journal News.

The pause starts Nov. 23 and a return to hybrid instruction is scheduled for Jan. 19.