Brick Schools Will Close March 16-27; Home Instruction Planned

Brick Township High School (File Photo)

Brick school officials announced Saturday that all of the district’s schools would close Monday and remain shuttered through March 27.

“Given the Governor’s message on the inevitability of directed school closings, and after consultation with the Executive County Superintendent as well as the Ocean County Health Department on the increased activity of the coronavirus, we will be closing schools Monday, March 16 and anticipate being closed through Friday, March 27,” the district said in an announcement

The announcement continued to say that the district would “evaluate weekly” and update its schedule accordingly. Home instruction is also being prepared to start Monday.

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“We will be implementing our home instruction remote learning preparedness plan in an effort to be proactive in combating the spread of this virus,” the announcement said. “This plan will go into effect Monday, March 16th and will remain in place until school reopens.”

Information on the remote learning platform will be available on the Blackboard system and posted on the district’s website on Monday, officials said.

In a letter from Superintendent Thomas G. Farrell, parents were told the intent of the closure is to comply with a request from the governor that gatherings of more than 250 people are to be avoided.

“Although no one in our school community has tested positive for the coronavirus at this time, we recognize that we have a potential health risk and a community responsibility,” he wrote.

During the closure, he said, all schools will be deep-cleaned, and students will have to keep up with their studies.

“Students are expected to engage in their instruction on a regular basis,” Farrell wrote. “Assignments will be monitored and faculty will be available via remote communication. In addition to virtual instruction vehicles (i.e., Google Classroom, etc.), physical packets consisting of materials and resources will be prepared for our younger learners and students who lack access.”

Services such as OT/PT, Speech, etc., cannot be provided through this remote home instruction, Farrell said.

“However, to assist students in maintaining skills already developed, related service providers will be available via remote communication to share at-home supplemental activities that students can complete,” the letter stated.

A full copy of the letter can be found here.