The Following is a press release from Lakewood Superintendent Steve Skalka:

Let me start by saying thank you for supporting school staff, our students, and me over the last thirteen weeks. We are one of the few school districts in the state to offer in-person and remote instruction five days a week since the start of the school year. As we look forward to Thanksgiving break next week, it has become clear to me that by closing school and not engaging in in-person or remote instruction on Monday and Tuesday next week as well, we have an opportunity to positively impact the physical and emotional health of our school community moving forward. With a nine-calendar day (November 21-29) break, we can contribute to reducing the number of cases by allowing anyone who we are currently not aware is positive or their close contacts to isolate and quarantine at home thereby protecting in-person instruction for several weeks afterward. In addition, while working hard on behalf of their students, our staff members are not immune to the virus and its effects on them, their families and their extended families. A longer break will allow them time to recharge for the stretch run to Christmas break. It will also provide the District the opportunity to get staff members who are quarantined back, which is important right now as we are short substitute staff. I know the decision not to have school is disruptive to some families. My hope is that by modifying these two days (actually, a day and half) it will lead to less disruption to fewer families moving forward. You certainly can help in that by continuing to practice every day safety measures, rethinking routines and traditions, and staying home as much as possible.