Teaneck Schools Closed Indefinitely beginning March 16, 2020 – Important COVID-19 Update from Superintendent

Dear Parents & Guardians,

Out of great concern for the health and welfare of Bergen County residents and all school staff during this Coronavirus/COVID-19 health crisis, the Bergen County Executive has called for ALL school buildings in this county to be closed, indefinitely, beginning on Monday, March 16, 2020.

On behalf of Teaneck Public Schools, I am appreciative of this decision.  Although we currently have no presumptive positive cases in the District, we will close all of our school buildings next week. Our district office (at the Glenpointe – 300 Glenpointe Centre “East” building – 7th Floor) will remain open with limited staff each day. In the likely event that we will need to close our school buildings beyond the coming week, I will communicate that to you by the end of next week.

IMPORTANT EXPECTATION:  During this difficult time, all school districts are required by the NJ Department of Education to continue to educate our children through a “learning from home” protocol.  To that end, please be aware of the following important actions that we are taking:

Continued Education

Over this weekend, you will receive an email from our Curriculum & Instruction staff outlining how to access your child’s lesson plans/assignments – by grade – via our district website:  https://www.teaneckschools.org

Middle school and high school students will be expected to work “virtually” (through the internet) and will be guided by their teachers in “Google Hangouts” throughout this process.  All of our middle and high school students were provided a Chromebook to take home.  If you do not have internet access at home, please contact your child’s school principal on Monday, March 16.  They will be in the school building on that day from the hours of 11am-1pm to print home instruction packets for families.  After Monday, you will not be able to enter the school buildings. If needed, you can visit the District Office at the address above.

For all other grades, the lesson plans provided will help guide you through the daily, two hour per day requirement.  For our parents with children of special needs, you will receive further information from our Special Services department this weekend.

The email you will receive will provide more specifics and will even include “how to” videos.  Just know that our expectation is for your child to complete their daily assignments. It is best to complete these over the next one to three weeks; but please note that in order for your child to receive credit for these instructional days, they MUST complete all assignments by the end of this school year. Also, if you have any questions at any time, you should contact your child’s teacher via their district email address and expect a response within 24 hours.  If you do not receive a response within that timeframe, please let your school principal know and he/she will ensure that you receive an immediate response.

Afterschool & Evening Activities

While our school buildings are closed, there will be no afterschool or evening programs – including our before and aftercare (SACC) program.  High school athletics will be suspended unless otherwise notified by our Athletics Director.  The March 18th Board Meeting is our one exception – it will take place as scheduled (beginning at 7:30 pm).  Any special recognition ceremonies previously planned for this meeting will be rescheduled.

Food Services

Although the school buildings will be closed, we will be distributing box lunches to any district family in need.  Beginning Monday, March 16, you can come to Teaneck High School from 11 am – 1 pm to pick up a boxed lunch.  There will be a tent area by the Cranford gym (facing the back parking lots).  You will be asked for your child/children’s names.  Our focus is on the health of our children.  This includes ensuring they receive a nutritional meal!

COVID-19 Resources

As we all continue to follow the CDC’s guidelines on preventative measures such as washing our hands and “social distancing”, if you have any questions, please visit the following websites:

https://www.nj.gov/health/

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Additionally, Teaneck Township is providing its residents with a resource to obtain information about the Coronavirus/COVID-19 by sending an email to covid19@teanecknj.gov. A member of the Teaneck Health Department will answer your question(s) as quickly as possible.

Moving Forward

By Friday, March 20, I will let you know about our plans for the following week. Parents and guardians should continue to make childcare plans as I expect that we will likely be closed.  Our faculty have prepared lesson plans for this second week and will be working on lesson plans for a possible third week of school closings.

I realize this is an extremely difficult time and will present great hardships for our families. I appreciate your patience and cooperation as we work together to stay healthy while continuing the critical work of educating our children.

Thank you Teaneck parents and guardians!  I truly appreciate each and every one of you.

–  Dr. Christopher Irving, Superintendent of Schools

Teaneck Library: Important Service Changes Due to the Spread of COVID-19

Dear Teaneck Public Library patrons and community members,

In response to the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus in the northern New Jersey area, we are continuing to work in close partnership with the Township of Teaneck to take the necessary steps to slow the spread of this virus and ensure the health and safety of our library patrons and staff.

Out of an abundance of caution, and in consultation with the Township Manager’s Office and the Department of Health, Teaneck Public Library will be closed to the public, effective March 13, 2020 until further notice. All public programs, events, and meetings have been cancelled through the end of March.

The building will continue to be staffed as we work diligently to disinfect and sanitize facilities, continue providing high quality remote digital services, and prepare for a safe reopening of the building as soon as possible.

I understand how this action will be disruptive to Teaneck residents who rely on the library for critical information, access to technology, engaging materials, and enriching programs. However, the public health and the safety of residents and library staff is our number one priority.

Library staff will continue to communicate closely with Township and Health Department officials, and coordinate our response to this evolving threat to public health.

During this time, we encourage patrons to utilize the many digital remote services available, including:

For updates on library services and resources related to COVID-19, please visit the dedicated page on our website. You can also explore a complete list of digital library services that can be accessed remotely with a valid Teaneck Public Library card.

Thank you for your patience as we continue to address the challenges created by this unique situation as safely and effectively as possible.

Sincerely,

M. Allen McGinley
Library Director

March 13, 2020 Bergen Office of Emergency Management Guidance

We are recommending that all mass gatherings be canceled due to the rapid spread and community transmission of COVID-19.

This is only a recommendation and we cannot force anyone to do this.

If people insist on having the gathering, we are asking that all towns institute a policy, for gatherings over 25 people, in their municipality. This policy will request that the organizer of the event documents the name and cell phone number of every individual present at the gathering and maintains that information for a period of 14 days.

Again we cannot force someone to do this but this will help the local health officer in the event someone becomes symptomatic and tests positive days later, at least they will know who this person may have come in contact with at the event and can contact those people.

COVID-19 Related announcements

Read More...

COVID-19 Update Call

COVID-19 Update Call

Wednesday, March 18, 2020 8 PM

This evening at 8PM, the Township of Teaneck will be hosting a Community Update on the Coronavirus.

Please join Township Manager Dean Kazinci; the Teaneck Council; Congressman Josh Gottheimer; Michael Maron, President and CEO of Holy Name Medical Center; Dr. Suraj Saggar, Chief of Infectious Disease at Holy Name Medical Center; Deborah Cornavaca, Deputy Chief of Staff for Governor Murphy; Teaneck Health Officer Ken Katter,; Teaneck School Superintendent Dr. Christopher Irving; Police Chief Glenn O’Reilly; and, Fire Chief Jordan Zaretsky to discuss the latest status of the virus, preventative measures, and important contact information that will help to answer all of your questions and concerns.

To participate by telephone, please call 1-425-535-9303 at 8:00 PM. You will automatically be connected to the conference call. A recording of the conference call will be made available on the Township’s website (www.teanecknj.gov) Thursday morning.

Thank you.

Read More...

Today’s executive orders, issued byt Governor Murphy and County Executive Tedesco can be found below:

Read More...

2020-03-15_Press Release and Executive Orders

Download link: Press Release (3/15/20) and Executive Orders from Bergen County and Teaneck

[/extend]

Read More...

For Immediate Release:
March 14, 2020

Contact:
Michael Pagan
201.336.6972

NEWS ADVISORY – HACKENSACK – SUNDAY MORNING

Teaneck Mayor Hameeduddin and Teaneck Manager Kazinci to Discuss Recent COVID-19 Developments

Teaneck Mayor Mohammed Hameeduddin and Teaneck Manager Dean Kazinci will hold a news conference SUNDAY MORNING – March 15th – at 10 a.m. in the 5TH floor Freeholder Public Meeting Room at One Bergen County Plaza in Hackensack, N.J. to discuss recent developments in connection with COVID-19 and the Township of Teaneck.

Also joining them will be Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer and Holy Name Medical Center Chief Medical Officer Adam Jarrett.

Read More...

As many of you have seen and heard, our Mayor has requested all residents to self-quarantine.
Ahead of a formal announcement tomorrow, and as social media, phone, text and WhatsApps are “ringing” off the hook, I wanted to put my thoughts together to define the word “Self- quarantine”. Please keep in mind at this time this is NOT a mandate but a voluntary step.
As the number of COVID-19 patients being treated at Holy Name Medical Center has risen, we are asking that the members of our Teaneck community begin to self-quarantine to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Slowing the spread of the coronavirus is our community’s only hope to avoid overwhelming our medical system. While hand-washing and sanitizing is helpful, this disease is communicated person-to-person, and the less social interactions we have, the slower it will be able to spread.
Our highest chances of slowing the spread of this virus is when the infection rate in our general population is still low. If we wait for our infection rates in Teaneck to rise before taking these preventative measures, they will not be effective.
We need to take proactive steps at social distancing because that is known to flatten the curve.
We can’t possibly know every place everyone has been with any degree of certainly.
Let’s put our collective energies into doing what we can to help the greatest number of people.
To that end, some practices of self-quarantine include:
  • When you do have to go out in the community for groceries or medicine, only one member of the household should go, and he/she should practice Social Distancing, and maintain a 6-foot distance from all other individuals.
  • Reduce and eliminate unnecessary trips.
  • Make required travel done by a single person.
  • We will be asking our food establishments to be takeout and delivery only
  • Movie theaters and gyms will be closed.
  • Many house of worship, under request from their religious leaders, have closed
  • Many employees are working from home. Please ask your employer if you can.
Today the New York Times quoted Dr. Carter Mecher, a senior medical adviser for public health at the Department of Veterans Affairs and a former director of medical preparedness policy at the White House during the Obama and Bush administrations. We think his metaphor is helpful in understanding our situation. “A fire on your stove you could put out with a fire extinguisher, but if your kitchen is ablaze, that fire extinguisher probably won’t work. Communities that pull the fire extinguisher early are much more effective.”
As a reminder, the CDC’s tips for preventing the spread of infections include:
· Regularly and thoroughly wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with warm water and soap or clean them with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
· Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
· Stay home if you feel sick.
· Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash; if tissue is not available then cough/sneeze into your bent elbow.
· Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
Please monitor your own health and be aware of the symptoms of COVID-19. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
The following symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure.
· Fever
· Cough
· Shortness of breath
If you think you may have COVID-19, first contact your doctor before going to the hospital.
According to the CDC, if you develop emergency warning signs for COVID-19 you should get medical attention immediately. Emergency warning signs include, but are not limited to:
· Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
· Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
· New confusion or inability to arouse
· Bluish lips or face
Please stay tuned for more formal information from the township tomorrow.

Read More...

Dear Parents & Guardians,

Out of great concern for the health and welfare of Bergen County residents and all school staff during this Coronavirus/COVID-19 health crisis, the Bergen County Executive has called for ALL school buildings in this county to be closed, indefinitely, beginning on Monday, March 16, 2020.

On behalf of Teaneck Public Schools, I am appreciative of this decision.  Although we currently have no presumptive positive cases in the District, we will close all of our school buildings next week. Our district office (at the Glenpointe – 300 Glenpointe Centre “East” building – 7th Floor) will remain open with limited staff each day. In the likely event that we will need to close our school buildings beyond the coming week, I will communicate that to you by the end of next week.

IMPORTANT EXPECTATION:  During this difficult time, all school districts are required by the NJ Department of Education to continue to educate our children through a “learning from home” protocol.  To that end, please be aware of the following important actions that we are taking:

Continued Education

Over this weekend, you will receive an email from our Curriculum & Instruction staff outlining how to access your child’s lesson plans/assignments – by grade – via our district website:  https://www.teaneckschools.org

Middle school and high school students will be expected to work “virtually” (through the internet) and will be guided by their teachers in “Google Hangouts” throughout this process.  All of our middle and high school students were provided a Chromebook to take home.  If you do not have internet access at home, please contact your child’s school principal on Monday, March 16.  They will be in the school building on that day from the hours of 11am-1pm to print home instruction packets for families.  After Monday, you will not be able to enter the school buildings. If needed, you can visit the District Office at the address above.

For all other grades, the lesson plans provided will help guide you through the daily, two hour per day requirement.  For our parents with children of special needs, you will receive further information from our Special Services department this weekend.

The email you will receive will provide more specifics and will even include “how to” videos.  Just know that our expectation is for your child to complete their daily assignments. It is best to complete these over the next one to three weeks; but please note that in order for your child to receive credit for these instructional days, they MUST complete all assignments by the end of this school year. Also, if you have any questions at any time, you should contact your child’s teacher via their district email address and expect a response within 24 hours.  If you do not receive a response within that timeframe, please let your school principal know and he/she will ensure that you receive an immediate response.

Afterschool & Evening Activities

While our school buildings are closed, there will be no afterschool or evening programs – including our before and aftercare (SACC) program.  High school athletics will be suspended unless otherwise notified by our Athletics Director.  The March 18th Board Meeting is our one exception – it will take place as scheduled (beginning at 7:30 pm).  Any special recognition ceremonies previously planned for this meeting will be rescheduled.

Food Services

Although the school buildings will be closed, we will be distributing box lunches to any district family in need.  Beginning Monday, March 16, you can come to Teaneck High School from 11 am – 1 pm to pick up a boxed lunch.  There will be a tent area by the Cranford gym (facing the back parking lots).  You will be asked for your child/children’s names.  Our focus is on the health of our children.  This includes ensuring they receive a nutritional meal!

COVID-19 Resources

As we all continue to follow the CDC’s guidelines on preventative measures such as washing our hands and “social distancing”, if you have any questions, please visit the following websites:

https://www.nj.gov/health/

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Additionally, Teaneck Township is providing its residents with a resource to obtain information about the Coronavirus/COVID-19 by sending an email to covid19@teanecknj.gov. A member of the Teaneck Health Department will answer your question(s) as quickly as possible.

Moving Forward

By Friday, March 20, I will let you know about our plans for the following week. Parents and guardians should continue to make childcare plans as I expect that we will likely be closed.  Our faculty have prepared lesson plans for this second week and will be working on lesson plans for a possible third week of school closings.

I realize this is an extremely difficult time and will present great hardships for our families. I appreciate your patience and cooperation as we work together to stay healthy while continuing the critical work of educating our children.

Thank you Teaneck parents and guardians!  I truly appreciate each and every one of you.

–  Dr. Christopher Irving, Superintendent of Schools

{/expand]

Read More...

We are recommending that all mass gatherings be canceled due to the rapid spread and community transmission of COVID-19.

This is only a recommendation and we cannot force anyone to do this.

If people insist on having the gathering, we are asking that all towns institute a policy, for gatherings over 25 people, in their municipality. This policy will request that the organizer of the event documents the name and cell phone number of every individual present at the gathering and maintains that information for a period of 14 days.

Again we cannot force someone to do this but this will help the local health officer in the event someone becomes symptomatic and tests positive days later, at least they will know who this person may have come in contact with at the event and can contact those people.

Read More...

Dear Teaneck Public Library patrons and community members,

In response to the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus in the northern New Jersey area, we are continuing to work in close partnership with the Township of Teaneck to take the necessary steps to slow the spread of this virus and ensure the health and safety of our library patrons and staff.

Out of an abundance of caution, and in consultation with the Township Manager’s Office and the Department of Health, Teaneck Public Library will be closed to the public, effective March 13, 2020 until further notice. All public programs, events, and meetings have been cancelled through the end of March.

The building will continue to be staffed as we work diligently to disinfect and sanitize facilities, continue providing high quality remote digital services, and prepare for a safe reopening of the building as soon as possible.

I understand how this action will be disruptive to Teaneck residents who rely on the library for critical information, access to technology, engaging materials, and enriching programs. However, the public health and the safety of residents and library staff is our number one priority.

Library staff will continue to communicate closely with Township and Health Department officials, and coordinate our response to this evolving threat to public health.

During this time, we encourage patrons to utilize the many digital remote services available, including:

For updates on library services and resources related to COVID-19, please visit the dedicated page on our website. You can also explore a complete list of digital library services that can be accessed remotely with a valid Teaneck Public Library card.

Thank you for your patience as we continue to address the challenges created by this unique situation as safely and effectively as possible.

Sincerely,

M. Allen McGinley
Library Director

Read More...

TEANECK PRESS RELEASE

March 12, 2020

  To:       All Township Residents
From:   Dean B. Kazinci, Township Manager

  COVID-19 UPDATE

The Township of Teaneck continues to monitor the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) throughout our region. As Manager, I have an imperative to do everything possible to slow the spread of this serious virus and protect those who are most vulnerable. This is a difficult and extraordinary situation, and I recognize that people throughout our community, including our workforce, are concerned for their personal health and that of their families and friends.

Teaneck currently has eight (8) presumptive positive cases of the COVID-19 virus.

As you are aware, Governor Murphy declared a State of Emergency, and Public Health Emergency to strengthen state preparedness to contain the spread of COVID-19. County Executive James Tedesco also declared a State of Emergency earlier this week.

The Township’s Health Department is working closely with the NJ Department of Health to monitor the situation closely. Staff continue to proactively respond to any cases that may be identified in our area. The Health Department has fielded hundreds of calls and emails from our residents for guidance and direction.

My office continues to have daily meetings with command staff to provide them with the latest information on the COVID-19 virus to include how it is spread; symptoms; risks; workplace safety; prevention; and, treatment. I remain in contact with the Township’s OEM coordinator, Holy Name Medical Center, Fairleigh Dickinson University, and the Teaneck Volunteer Ambulance Corps. for preparedness purposes. I am confident Teaneck is prepared for this crisis and we will do everything possible to keep our residents and workforce safe.

Today, Governor Murphy released a statement based on guidance from the Commissioner of Health. Governor Murphy is recommending the cancellation of all public gatherings throughout New Jersey of more than 250 individuals. These measures are being taken as part of a coordinated response to the continued outbreak, and to aggressively mitigate the spread of the virus.

No matter the size of the event, I can’t stress enough how important it is to practice commonsense hygiene like washing your hands aggressively, staying home if you are sick, and keeping a social distance space of six feet.

Again social distancing works and it’s the best way to flatten the curve and prevent the rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus.

I made several important decisions over the past two days that will further help protect our workforce and community in mitigating the spread of the virus.

My office released a COVID-19 Pandemic Plan for Township operations to our workforce today. The plan was developed to assist the Township in responding to and conducting operations during a potential Coronavirus pandemic outbreak.

In an effort to protect those members of our community at the highest risk for complications of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), as well as the health of our workforce, the Township has cancelled all Senior activities, as well as all recreational programs, including open gym, at the Rodda Center.  The junior sports athletic programs have cancelled their upcoming practices and games until April 1st.

Vantage Health, the Township’s social services provider, will continue to operate without disruption.

All scheduled Court sessions in the Teaneck Municipal Court have been cancelled until further notice.

The Teaneck Library will be closed to the public starting Friday, March 13th. This decision was reached to protect the staff from potential exposures to COVID-19 out of an abundance of caution. The Library’s website will reflect when the Library will reopen.

I have cancelled all non-essential meetings. The website calendar will reflect the cancellations of the various Boards and Commissions.

Effective the week of March 16th, and until further notice, the municipal building will be closed on Friday’s. All staff will work a Monday through Thursday schedule. Hours of operation will be from 8:00 AM to 5:15 PM on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Hours of operation on Tuesday will remain 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM. The Rodda Center will follow the same schedule.

Again, these actions will help to mitigate the spread of the virus and allow the Township’s maintenance staff to completely clean and sanitize the buildings when closed. This schedule will remain in place until further notice.

All emergency services remain on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There will be no interruption of schedule for the Department of Public Works.

Teaneck is a resilient community and I’m confident, with the leadership in place of your Council, Manager’s Office, Department Heads, and Emergency Personnel that we will get through this crisis together.

While there is still much to learn about COVID-19, residents should remain calm and vigilant in their personal efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and monitor the Township’s website at www.teanecknj.gov for updated information.

As a reminder, the New Jersey Department of Health has established a 24-hour telephone hotline for residents who may have concerns or questions: 800-222-1222.

Read More...

For Immediate Release:
March 12, 2020
Contact:
Michael Pagan
201.336.6972

Tedesco Remarks on the Status of Bergen County’s 75 School Districts

Hackensack, N.J. – Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco today delivered the following remarks at an evening news conference concerning the status of Bergen County’s 75 school districts:

“As many of you have reported, Broadway has gone dark.  Disneyland has closed its doors. And the NHL, MLB and NBA seasons have come to a halt.

As the Bergen County Executive, I feel that closing all of our public schools in Bergen County is just as paramount a decision, and I do not take it, or make it lightly.  I’ve been fielding phone calls this week from Mayors, Health and School Officials, and other leaders and parents about the status of our schools.

With the continuing spread of COVID-19 throughout Bergen County, it is imperative that we take action and do everything in our power to protect our 1 million residents.  This includes our 75 school districts which have almost 170,000 children; 16,000 teachers; and hundreds and hundreds of administrative, custodial and support staff.

Earlier this week, I declared a State of Emergency in the County of Bergen.  As a result, we closed all 10 County-Operated Senior Activity Centers until further notice to protect our seniors who continue to be the most vulnerable population when it comes to the spread of this deadly virus.

We suspended visitation to our Bergen County Health Care Center at Rockleigh, and our partner agency at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center implemented the same policy for their long-term care facility. We also announced that we were closing the Bergen County Technical Schools and the Bergen County Special Services Schools which affects approximately 3,600 students and 1,600 teachers and administrators.

Today, we are making another announcement concerning our schools. 

After consulting with Executive Leadership of the Bergen County Association of School Administrators and our County Health Officer, I have decided to have all 75 public school districts in Bergen County transition from on-site learning to off-site internet-based and paper-based distance learning until further notice.

While the CDC states that COVID-19 does not pose as great a risk to our children as it does to our older adult population, it is vital that we protect our children from the dangers of this virus or the community spread of this virus.

We are confident in the ability of Bergen County’s teachers, staff and administrators to successfully educate our children off-site, and are encouraging them to begin preparing lesson-plans as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, this virus is not going anywhere for the time-being. As your County Executive, I will continue to take every step necessary to protect you and your families.  In an ongoing effort to be safe, we must continue to take proactive steps to get ahead of this virus, contain the spread of this virus, and protect ourselves from this virus.

You’ve heard many health officials say this over the past week but it bears repeating: There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19, but the best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to the virus.

The CDC and the NJ Department of Health recommend that you take the simple steps that they have recommended to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

We are also encouraging businesses to let their employees stay at home using tele-communication technology to be with their children to address their childcare needs, and if that is not possible, we hope and expect private businesses would make allowances to their employees to be paid for a reasonable time to take care of their families — similar to the Civil Service guidelines public employees have.

The people of Bergen County are a very strong group of people and we will get through this. We made it through Superstorm Floyd and Superstorm Sandy when schools were closed for days and we will make it through COVID-19.

We are Bergen County Strong, but we must take steps to protect ourselves, and that is what we will continue to do with this most recent announcement concerning our schoolchildren.”

Read More...

Dear Teaneck Community,

On behalf of Dr. Irving our Superintendent, and in partnership with the Teaneck Community Charter School, we will be using one of our remaining snow days to close tomorrow, Friday, March 13th for all students and school staff.  All after-school and evening programs are also cancelled.  However, please note that our Leadership team and Central Office staff will still report to work.

We have heard from many parents, students and staff, and want to assure you that we take this health crisis very seriously.  Closing schools for an extended period of time will be a hardship for all; but the health and safety of our educational community must be our top priority.

This day will provide us with the necessary time to make any final preparations in case we need to close for several weeks. We continue to work closely with our local and State agencies, and any decisions regarding school closings beyond this weekend will be made with careful consideration.  Parents and guardians should prepare to make any necessary childcare plans.

We appreciate your patience during this very challenging time.  Thank you.

Teaneck Public Schools

Read More...


Please join Teaneck Council Members, Teaneck Township Manager Dean Kazinci, Teaneck Police Chief Glenn O’Reilly  & Teaneck Fire Chief Jordan Zaretsky, Teaneck Health Officer Ken Katter Teaneck,  Board of Education Superintendent Dr. Chris Irving, Suraj Saggar, D.O.Infectious Disease Chief, Holy Name Medical Center,  &  Representatives from Governor Murphy’s Office
Tonight, March 12, 8pm for a quick Teaneck update #3 call-
(This is a proactive call at night to be able to include and educate as many Teaneck residents–Please share)
Dial (563) 999-1684
**If you can’t make the call, a recorded link will be provided   

Read More...

Read More...

Read More...

Covid-19 3/11/20 Press Release

The Township of Teaneck continues to monitor the spread of the Coronavirus  (COVID-19) throughout our region. As Manager, I have an imperative to do everything possible to slow the spread of this serious virus and protect those who are most vulnerable. This is a difficult and extraordinary situation, and I recognize that people throughout our community, including our workforce, are concerned for their personal health and that of their families and friends.

Teaneck currently has three (3) presumptive positive patients with the COVID-19 virus. Patient one is a 70 year old male who was admitted to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Paterson, New Jersey. Patient two, a 30 year old male and patient three, a 44 year old male, were both admitted to Holy Name Medical Center.  Their conditions are unknown.

In an effort to protect those members of our community at the highest risk for complications of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), as well as the health of our workforce, the Township will be cancelling all Senior activities at the Richard Rodda Recreation Department, and all scheduled Court sessions in the Teaneck Municipal Building until further notice. This is the prudent and responsible action to take which protects our workforce and community from the spread of COVID-19 until it is under control. I want to exercise an abundance of caution for our most vulnerable members of the Teaneck community. 

In addition, the Teaneck Public Library will be rescheduling or cancelling all large scale events until the end of March. We will be promoting remote digital services to reduce the volume of patrons that use the facility. Please monitor the Library’s website, https://teanecklibrary.org/, for up to date information on the cancellation of programs.

The Township will be cancelling all non-essential meetings to include advisory boards and commissions.

These are just the first steps I’m taking to insure we minimize the risks and spread of the disease. 

The Township’s Health Department continues to work closely with State Health Officials to determine any further circulation within our community.

The Township’s maintenance staff continues to sanitize and disinfect common areas throughout our municipal buildings. My office continues to hold regular meetings with department heads and our Office of Emergency Management to provide them with up to date information on the virus. The Township remains in daily contact with the school superintendent, as well as officials from Fairleigh Dickinson University and Holy Name Hospital. We are encouraging residents, whenever possible, to conduct all business with the Township online.

My office will be releasing a COVID-19 Pandemic Plan for Township operations today. The plan was developed to assist the Township in responding to and conducting operations during potential Coronavirus pandemic outbreak.

While there is still much to learn about COVID-19, residents should remain calm and vigilant in their personal efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and monitor the Township’s website at www.teanecknj.gov for updated information.

As a reminder, the New Jersey Department of Health has established a 24-hour telephone hotline for residents who may have concerns or questions: 800-222-1222

Read More...

Read More...

Community Update on Coronavirus

This evening, (March 5, 2020) the Township of Teaneck will be hosting a Community Update conference call on the Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19. Please join Township Manager Dean Kazinci, members of Council, Health Officer Ken Katter, School Superintendent Dr. Christopher Irving, and representatives from Holy Name Hospital to discuss the latest status of the virus, preventative measures, and important contact information that will help to answer all of your questions and concerns.

To participate by telephone, please call 563-999-1684 at 8:00 PM.

You will automatically be connected to the conference call. A recording of the conference call will be made available on the Township’s website Friday morning. Thank you.


The audio of the conference call is now available here:


Update #2

There are currently zero confirmed cases of the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-2019) in Teaneck. As per NJ Department of Health (NJDOH), societal risk is low at this time. There is no need to cancel school events, activities, etc. and there are no restrictions on public gatherings. Please be advised that schools, places of worship, sports leagues, etc. may exclude individuals who have recently returned from level 3 countries or had direct/close contact with an infected person.

As the COVID-2019 situation develops, the Teaneck Health Department is proactively handling the matter by conducting risk assessments, monitoring those under self-quarantine, checking the disease surveillance database, etc. The Teaneck Health Department follows directives in accordance with the CDC and NJDOH. Any new information/updates will be posted on the Teaneck website (under home news/health news). We urge our residents to remain calm, and not spread fear/panic. In light of factors such as commuter population, proximity to NY, and more recently the situation in Fort Lee, we are continuing to work closely with local and State officials as this matter evolves.

Teaneck Health Department would like to remind residents to take necessary precautions to protect themselves from the flu, common cold, and all respiratory viruses.  Our priority is to reduce the spread of infection by protecting the health of children, adolescents, and adults. Therefore, the Teaneck Health Department continues to stress basic infection prevention activities such as:

  • Thoroughly wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds (especially after coughing or sneezing)
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
  • Cough or sneeze into your sleeve, and not into the hands or into the air (also cover your coughs and sneezes with tissues and dispose of them properly)
  • Avoid contact with ill people and if you are ill, stay home from work or school; limit contact with others to keep from infecting them
  • Clean surfaces that are frequently touched (such as toys, doorknobs, tables, counters, etc.) regularly with a disinfectant solution

Anyone who suspects an exposure is urged to call a health care provider before going to a medical office and/or emergency room. Special arrangements can be made for you to be evaluated while also protecting other patients and medical staff from possible infection. Medical staff will evaluate you to see if you are eligible for testing (based on CDC clinical criteria for COVID-2019 PUIs) and NJDOH will review/approve such request.

**For those who attended events at the Temple Young Israel in New Rochelle, NY on February 22 and 23: if you have received notification from the Westchester County Health Department (WCHD) to be placed under self-quarantine, please heed the WCHD instructions on that recommendation. Or if you/your family had direct/close contact with the confirmed infected person and did not receive notification, please reach out to WCHD at: 866-588-0195 (WCHD hotline for people under self-quarantine or exposure to known case).**

For more information about Coronavirus, contact your health care provider or visit the following websites:
NJDOH – General Information Page – https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/ncov.shtml

FAQs – Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-2019) FAQs.pdf
CDC – General Information Page – https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

CDC – COVID-2019 Fact Sheets: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/communication/factsheets.html

Travel (due to the rapidly changing situation, see travel recommendations which are subject to frequent updates): https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html
For general questions, residents are encouraged to call the COVID-2019 hotline: 1-800-222-1222

To contact the Teaneck Health Department: 201-837-1600 ext. 1500 or health@teanecknj.gov


Read More...

Read More...

Teaneck Councilmembers Elie Y. Katz, Henry Pruitt, Mark J Schwartz, Gervonn Romney Rice, Keith Kaplan, Jim Dunleavy, Mohammed Hameeduddin participated in a call tonight to get a an update on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) to address the concerns of Teaneck residents. On the call were Teaneck Township Manager Dean Kazinci, Teaneck Health Officer Ken Katter & Teaneck Board of Education Superintendent Dr. Chris Irving.
Over 375 residents participated in this proactive call to address residents concerns. Teaneck’s Health Officer reassured the residents that NJ has “0” confirmed cases at this time. Teaneck will continue to monitor and inform their residents.
Call recording below–please share

 

3/12/20 Press Release Regarding COVID-19

TEANECK PRESS RELEASE

March 12, 2020

  To:       All Township Residents
From:   Dean B. Kazinci, Township Manager

  COVID-19 UPDATE

The Township of Teaneck continues to monitor the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) throughout our region. As Manager, I have an imperative to do everything possible to slow the spread of this serious virus and protect those who are most vulnerable. This is a difficult and extraordinary situation, and I recognize that people throughout our community, including our workforce, are concerned for their personal health and that of their families and friends.

Teaneck currently has eight (8) presumptive positive cases of the COVID-19 virus.

As you are aware, Governor Murphy declared a State of Emergency, and Public Health Emergency to strengthen state preparedness to contain the spread of COVID-19. County Executive James Tedesco also declared a State of Emergency earlier this week.

The Township’s Health Department is working closely with the NJ Department of Health to monitor the situation closely. Staff continue to proactively respond to any cases that may be identified in our area. The Health Department has fielded hundreds of calls and emails from our residents for guidance and direction.

My office continues to have daily meetings with command staff to provide them with the latest information on the COVID-19 virus to include how it is spread; symptoms; risks; workplace safety; prevention; and, treatment. I remain in contact with the Township’s OEM coordinator, Holy Name Medical Center, Fairleigh Dickinson University, and the Teaneck Volunteer Ambulance Corps. for preparedness purposes. I am confident Teaneck is prepared for this crisis and we will do everything possible to keep our residents and workforce safe.

Today, Governor Murphy released a statement based on guidance from the Commissioner of Health. Governor Murphy is recommending the cancellation of all public gatherings throughout New Jersey of more than 250 individuals. These measures are being taken as part of a coordinated response to the continued outbreak, and to aggressively mitigate the spread of the virus.

No matter the size of the event, I can’t stress enough how important it is to practice commonsense hygiene like washing your hands aggressively, staying home if you are sick, and keeping a social distance space of six feet.

Again social distancing works and it’s the best way to flatten the curve and prevent the rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus.

I made several important decisions over the past two days that will further help protect our workforce and community in mitigating the spread of the virus.

My office released a COVID-19 Pandemic Plan for Township operations to our workforce today. The plan was developed to assist the Township in responding to and conducting operations during a potential Coronavirus pandemic outbreak.

In an effort to protect those members of our community at the highest risk for complications of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), as well as the health of our workforce, the Township has cancelled all Senior activities, as well as all recreational programs, including open gym, at the Rodda Center.  The junior sports athletic programs have cancelled their upcoming practices and games until April 1st.

Vantage Health, the Township’s social services provider, will continue to operate without disruption.

All scheduled Court sessions in the Teaneck Municipal Court have been cancelled until further notice.

The Teaneck Library will be closed to the public starting Friday, March 13th. This decision was reached to protect the staff from potential exposures to COVID-19 out of an abundance of caution. The Library’s website will reflect when the Library will reopen.

I have cancelled all non-essential meetings. The website calendar will reflect the cancellations of the various Boards and Commissions.

Effective the week of March 16th, and until further notice, the municipal building will be closed on Friday’s. All staff will work a Monday through Thursday schedule. Hours of operation will be from 8:00 AM to 5:15 PM on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Hours of operation on Tuesday will remain 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM. The Rodda Center will follow the same schedule.

Again, these actions will help to mitigate the spread of the virus and allow the Township’s maintenance staff to completely clean and sanitize the buildings when closed. This schedule will remain in place until further notice.

All emergency services remain on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There will be no interruption of schedule for the Department of Public Works.

Teaneck is a resilient community and I’m confident, with the leadership in place of your Council, Manager’s Office, Department Heads, and Emergency Personnel that we will get through this crisis together.

While there is still much to learn about COVID-19, residents should remain calm and vigilant in their personal efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and monitor the Township’s website at www.teanecknj.gov for updated information.

As a reminder, the New Jersey Department of Health has established a 24-hour telephone hotline for residents who may have concerns or questions: 800-222-1222.

COVID-19 March 12th press release-1

Download link: 3/12/20 Press Release Regarding COVID-19

Tedesco Remarks on the Status of Bergen County’s 75 School Districts

For Immediate Release:
March 12, 2020
Contact:
Michael Pagan
201.336.6972

Tedesco Remarks on the Status of Bergen County’s 75 School Districts

Hackensack, N.J. – Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco today delivered the following remarks at an evening news conference concerning the status of Bergen County’s 75 school districts:

“As many of you have reported, Broadway has gone dark.  Disneyland has closed its doors. And the NHL, MLB and NBA seasons have come to a halt.

As the Bergen County Executive, I feel that closing all of our public schools in Bergen County is just as paramount a decision, and I do not take it, or make it lightly.  I’ve been fielding phone calls this week from Mayors, Health and School Officials, and other leaders and parents about the status of our schools.

With the continuing spread of COVID-19 throughout Bergen County, it is imperative that we take action and do everything in our power to protect our 1 million residents.  This includes our 75 school districts which have almost 170,000 children; 16,000 teachers; and hundreds and hundreds of administrative, custodial and support staff.

Earlier this week, I declared a State of Emergency in the County of Bergen.  As a result, we closed all 10 County-Operated Senior Activity Centers until further notice to protect our seniors who continue to be the most vulnerable population when it comes to the spread of this deadly virus.

We suspended visitation to our Bergen County Health Care Center at Rockleigh, and our partner agency at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center implemented the same policy for their long-term care facility. We also announced that we were closing the Bergen County Technical Schools and the Bergen County Special Services Schools which affects approximately 3,600 students and 1,600 teachers and administrators.

Today, we are making another announcement concerning our schools. 

After consulting with Executive Leadership of the Bergen County Association of School Administrators and our County Health Officer, I have decided to have all 75 public school districts in Bergen County transition from on-site learning to off-site internet-based and paper-based distance learning until further notice.

While the CDC states that COVID-19 does not pose as great a risk to our children as it does to our older adult population, it is vital that we protect our children from the dangers of this virus or the community spread of this virus.

We are confident in the ability of Bergen County’s teachers, staff and administrators to successfully educate our children off-site, and are encouraging them to begin preparing lesson-plans as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, this virus is not going anywhere for the time-being. As your County Executive, I will continue to take every step necessary to protect you and your families.  In an ongoing effort to be safe, we must continue to take proactive steps to get ahead of this virus, contain the spread of this virus, and protect ourselves from this virus.

You’ve heard many health officials say this over the past week but it bears repeating: There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19, but the best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to the virus.

The CDC and the NJ Department of Health recommend that you take the simple steps that they have recommended to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

We are also encouraging businesses to let their employees stay at home using tele-communication technology to be with their children to address their childcare needs, and if that is not possible, we hope and expect private businesses would make allowances to their employees to be paid for a reasonable time to take care of their families — similar to the Civil Service guidelines public employees have.

The people of Bergen County are a very strong group of people and we will get through this. We made it through Superstorm Floyd and Superstorm Sandy when schools were closed for days and we will make it through COVID-19.

We are Bergen County Strong, but we must take steps to protect ourselves, and that is what we will continue to do with this most recent announcement concerning our schoolchildren.”

Teaneck Public School Closing Info

Dear Teaneck Community,

On behalf of Dr. Irving our Superintendent, and in partnership with the Teaneck Community Charter School, we will be using one of our remaining snow days to close tomorrow, Friday, March 13th for all students and school staff.  All after-school and evening programs are also cancelled.  However, please note that our Leadership team and Central Office staff will still report to work.

We have heard from many parents, students and staff, and want to assure you that we take this health crisis very seriously.  Closing schools for an extended period of time will be a hardship for all; but the health and safety of our educational community must be our top priority.

This day will provide us with the necessary time to make any final preparations in case we need to close for several weeks. We continue to work closely with our local and State agencies, and any decisions regarding school closings beyond this weekend will be made with careful consideration.  Parents and guardians should prepare to make any necessary childcare plans.

We appreciate your patience during this very challenging time.  Thank you.

Teaneck Public Schools

[UPDATE: Audio] Teaneck Hosts Community Update Call Regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19)- Tonight 3/12/20


Please join Teaneck Council Members, Teaneck Township Manager Dean Kazinci, Teaneck Police Chief Glenn O’Reilly  & Teaneck Fire Chief Jordan Zaretsky, Teaneck Health Officer Ken Katter Teaneck,  Board of Education Superintendent Dr. Chris Irving, Suraj Saggar, D.O.Infectious Disease Chief, Holy Name Medical Center,  &  Representatives from Governor Murphy’s Office
Tonight, March 12, 8pm for a quick Teaneck update #3 call-
(This is a proactive call at night to be able to include and educate as many Teaneck residents–Please share)
Dial (563) 999-1684
**If you can’t make the call, a recorded link will be provided