January 21, 2021
Dear Catskill CSD Community,
I was notified this afternoon that a bus driver our District contracts with has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. The individual last worked this morning. The individual was not symptomatic and had not been a suspected case, but was identified as positive through surveillance testing provided by their employer. This affects one specific bus that transports both Catskill elementary and secondary campus students. Our District assisted the Greene County Department of Public Health (GC DPOH) in conducting contact tracing within our schools. We have identified and reached out to all close contacts associated with this case. If you are contacted by the GC DOPH, please give them your complete cooperation. If you are not directly contacted by the GC DOPH, you do not need to take any action.
While I understand that you may want additional details, privacy laws prevent us from personally identifying individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19.
The District continues to work closely with the GC DOPH and has followed all guidance provided by them. Because we have identified all close contacts associated with this case, the GC DPOH has cleared all Catskill schools to remain open for in-person hybrid Instruction.
Again, I want to reassure you that I take the health and safety of our children and staff very seriously. Any employee or student directed to quarantine due to testing positive for COVID-19 or by being identified as a close contact to a positive case must be cleared by the department of health before they can return to school. Our schools continue to follow all of the necessary health and safety precautions both on our campuses and on the buses our students ride, as outlined in our reopening plan. This includes mask wearing, social distancing, enhanced cleaning and disinfecting, and daily health screenings. Please continue to fill out our daily screening form and check your child’s temperature at home before they come to school. If they are not feeling well, please keep them home. Your cooperation with this screening and with our reopening plan is greatly appreciated and will help lead to a safer school environment.
In closing, if you have particular questions or concerns, you may wish to contact the GC DOPH at (518) 719-3600. In these challenging times, rest assured that the District’s priority is protecting the health, welfare, and safety of our students and staff while complying with government orders and guidance related to the opening of schools.
As always, I can be reached at (518) 943-4696 for questions as well.
Respectfully submitted,
Dr. Ronel Cook
Superintendent of Schools