Schools, Twp., Closed on Presidents' Day, but School Vacation Shorter

Bernards Township students will be back in school on Thursday and Friday to make up days lost to Hurricane Sandy.

The Bernards Township Schools and Bernards municipal building and Bernards Township Library all will be closed on Monday for Presidents Day. But while the day was intended to kick off the traditional weeklong February vacation for Bernards Township students, the holiday won't be as long as usual this year — thanks to Hurricane Sandy. The last two days of this week, Thursday and Friday, were intended to be part of the vacation. But the holiday time was lopped off — with students expected to report to school those days — as part of the school board's make-up time for eight days lost to Sandy last October and November. The extra days previous scheduled for time off that have been returned to this year's school calendar include the Martin …

• Photos (1)

Bernards Schools Closed for Rest of Week

Intention is to reopen on delayed opening schedule on Monday.

Bernards Township Schools will be closed for the remainder of the week, school officials announced on Tuesday afternoon, noting that power outages continue at four schools and many township homes.  "Additionally downed trees, wires and utility poles continue to cause significant road closures and hazardous conditions for pedestrians and vehicles," said the school website, which is posting only essential information on its homepage. "Many residents still do not have power. Complicating matters there is another storm forecast for Wednesday and Thursday," the website said. As a result, all Bernards Township schools will be closed for the remainder of the week, with the intention of reopening schools on Monday, Nov. 12 on a two-hour delay …

•  6 Comments
• Photos (1)

Letter to the Editor

Letter: How Kindergarten Donations Will Be Returned

Details how parent group will return contributions to those who participated in fundraiser.

Editor's Note: The Bernards Township Public School Initiative last winter raised in excess of $420,000 from public donations to fund the continuation of the full-day kindergarten program in the township's four public elementary schools. The Board of Education had voted last fall to cut the program to less than three hours per day in order to make up for a loss in state aid. However, upon the receipt of additional state aid last July, the school board voted to again pick up the cost of full-day program for the 2011-12 school year. The group chronicled its progress and released information on its website, www.BRFullDayK.org. Ultimately, the group had raised about $450,000, provided by 450 local donors. Parents Adam and Janina Hecht had …

• Photos (3)