On August 22, 2022, the New York State Department of Health (DOH) and State Education Department (SED) released new recommendations for managing COVID in schools, which are consistent with updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Controls (CDC). The District’s protocols, summarized below, are aligned with these recommendations.

• Individuals who test positive for COVID are still required to isolate for at least five days, and then continue to wear a well-fitting mask through at least day 10. Parents should notify their child’s school of a positive test result using the Positive COVID-19 Reporting Form on the District website.

• Schools are no longer required to conduct contact tracing.

  • At the elementary level, parents will be notified if a student in their child’s class tests positive and a test kit will be sent home with each student in that class. Test kits will also be available upon request.

  • At the secondary level, test kits will be available for all students and staff.

• Quarantines are no longer required for close contacts.

• The District is no longer required to report cases to the DOH.

• Masks and face coverings remain optional for all students and staff, and an individual’s choice regarding mask wearing must be respected by all.

Some of the prevention strategies that our District implemented over the past two years will remain in effect to support the overall health and safety of our school community, including improved ventilation, enhanced cleaning/disinfection procedures, and promoting hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette. As always, we ask parents to keep their children home when not feeling well.