District Superintendent Erik Gundersen notified the community in an email Tuesday morning of the Board of Education’s plans to cancel international school trips for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year due to the risks of COVID-19. 

The Board of Education arrived at its decision Monday night out of concern for the safety of students and staff traveling to countries and the government limiting travel in or out of the U.S.

For domestic trips, parents have the right to cancel their child’s participation in field trips, athletic competitions, proms, and other programs. The district can also cancel the trips if conditions worsen. 

“The district will work with teachers organizing trips to petition travel agencies and airlines to reimburse as much of the costs as possible; however, parents need to be aware and prepared that in some cases a refund might not be possible,” Gundersen said in the email. 

Gundersen also mentioned that a virtual day was approved by the New Jersey Board of Education if school closure is enforced by the state. The district experimented with three virtual days on Feb. 12 of 2014 and Feb. 2 and 3 of 2016.

“We have a long history of technology being woven into the fabric of our instruction and feel prepared for virtual learning if it becomes a requirement,” Gundersen said.

Within Pascack Valley, the custodial and maintenance staff are regularly disinfecting high-contact surfaces with state-approved chemicals during and after school to assure students and staff remain safe. Hand sanitizer dispensers were installed all throughout the school this week. 

“Understanding and sharing many of the concerns you have regarding this outbreak, we will continue to monitor developments, respond with guidance from local, state, and federal officials, and plan appropriately in an effort to keep our community safe,” Gundersen said.