October 10, 2020

Good afternoon Catskill CSD Community:

I hope this correspondence finds you safe and healthy as we move closer to opening our doors next week to our students. However, I am writing to inform you that it has come to my attention that an employee in our elementary school has tested positive for the Covid-19 virus. I am working diligently to confirm this through the Health Department and implement any directives and recommendations they share with me as to how our District should proceed. However, it being a holiday weekend, their offices are currently closed.

Due to privacy laws, I am unable to share with you specific details as to who has contracted the virus, and will await the Health Department to conduct their contact tracing process. In the meantime, we have taken the immediate steps to clean and disinfect all areas within our buildings per the guidance set-forth by the State Education Department, the State Health Department, and our District Re-opening Plan. Our contracted cleaning crew is on campus today to perform deep cleaning and sanitizing.

Unfortunately, this will delay the start of the Hybrid in-person instruction model that was scheduled to begin on Tuesday, October 13, 2020. Monday, October 12, 2020 is Columbus Day and the District as well as other state and local agencies are closed. Virtual instruction will continue remotely for all students, preK-12, on Tuesday, October 13, 2020 and Wednesday, October 14, 2020 to allow time for the Department of Health to respond and provide guidance. I will provide you with further information regarding the start of the Hybrid in-person instruction model as soon as communication takes place with the Greene County Public Health Department.

Respectfully,

Dr. Ronel Cook
Superintendent of Schools