As of October 18, all public school staff in the state of NJ are required to either be vaccinated against COVID-19, or to submit to weekly tests to ensure they are not infected with the disease.  As a result, non-vaccinated teachers within the New Providence School District will also be required to take weekly COVID-19 tests. Within the New Providence School District there have been 14 confirmed student cases and 2 total staff cases so far this school year. 

Since the beginning of the pandemic, NPSD has enforced rigorous protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This includes staying home when you are sick, washing hands often, covering coughs and sneezes, limiting close contact with people who are sick, practicing social distancing, wearing a face covering, and monitoring health regularly.

Weekly COVID-19 testing is another procedure to reduce and prevent the spread of COVID. This helps non-vaccinated teachers know if they contracted COVID weekly. 

“It’s necessary, especially to protect everybody in the elementary school grades. In the high school students are allowed to get the vaccination, in the elementary schools the vaccination hasn’t been approved for them,” said NPHS health teacher Mrs. Gumerlock

“It’s good because if the teachers are not vaccinated, they should be getting tested weekly, just as a safety precaution to make sure that they don’t have COVID and aren’t spreading it to the rest of the school,” said student Nina Illipronti

The District has provided access to free weekly COVID testing for all member of the NPSD community, which will aid in meeting the state’s requirements.

“There is testing for not only the community, but also any faculty member that wants to get tested, and the results would be anonymous. It’s open to the community and the school employees as well,” said Mrs. Gumerlock