East Ramapo School District officials say they are closed today so that all of their schools and administrative buildings can be cleaned and sanitized.

Officials say the decision to close happened after they received word that five of their students were quarantined for exposure to the coronavirus. Officials say those students, who are not currently showing symptoms, attend Hempstead Elementary, Pomona Middle School, Chestnut Ridge Middle School, Spring Valley High School and Ramapo High School.

 

The Rockland Health Department recommended the five affected schools be cleaned, but the district says they are taking it a step further out of an abundance of caution and cleaning all their buildings. In order to make that happen, they had to cancel all weekend activities and close schools today and tomorrow.

One parents tells News 12 it's not easy having her kids home, but she is glad they are cleaning. “Well, it's a health problem, so I'm not that happy they are not in school, but if it's for their own good it's OK with me.”

District officials say they will be using two unused snow days that are built into the school calendar. They plan to reopen Wednesday morning.