(April 30, 2021)
Dear Catskill CSD Families,
I wanted to inform you that two CES students have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. One student was last at school today, the other was last at school on April 26. Our school is in the process of assisting the Greene County Department of Public Health (GC DOPH) with contact tracing in the school setting. If you are contacted by a school official or the GC DOPH, please give them your full cooperation. If you are not directly contacted by a school official or the GC DOPH, you will not need to take any action.
I also wanted you to know that a Catskill High School student has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. The student was last at school on April 26. All close contacts in the school setting associated with this case have been notified. If you were not directly contacted by a school official or the GC DOPH, you do not need to take any action.
As a follow up to my communication yesterday about Catskill Middle School pivoting to virtual learning, the Middle School will reopen on Monday, May 3 for in-person learning. School officials have notified all close contacts in the school setting associated with the cases we informed you about yesterday. If you were not directly contacted by a school official, you do not need to take any action.
Due to the number of people who are close contacts, it may take the GC DOPH some time to follow up with each person who is required to quarantine. If you were directly contacted by a school official and told you need to quarantine, please remain in isolation and do not report to school on Monday, even if the GC DOPH has not yet contacted you to provide you with direction.
While I understand that you may want more details, privacy laws prohibit us from sharing or confirming personally identifiable information about anyone who has tested positive.
If you have particular questions or concerns, you may contact the GC DOPH at (518) 719-3600. As always, I can be reached at (518) 943-4696 for questions as well.
I want to send a very clear message to our parents. The District has worked very hard to follow guidelines to keep our schools open for in-person instruction. The majority of our students have returned to in-person instruction 4 days a week. Our after-school activities and programs have been reinstituted. If your child is sick, even with mild symptoms (the sniffles), it is important that you keep them home from school. Our entire operation is at risk when you send your sick child to school. I have responded to many phone calls today from concerned parents who are frustrated their child is quarantined for 10 days and cannot attend in-person instruction and after-school activities. Your attention to this matter is very much appreciated and will allow us to keep our schools open for in-person instruction and after-school activities.
Again, all Catskill CSD schools will be open for in-person learning on Monday, May 3.
Respectfully submitted,
Dr. Ronel Cook
Superintendent of Schools