Opening of Schools Update 8-24-21

Dear Warwick Valley CSD Community,

We are delighted to welcome all students back for full-time, in-person instruction on Thursday, September 2, 2021.
Today, Governor Hochul directed the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) to require universal indoor masking for anyone entering public schools, regardless of immunization status. As a result, our comprehensive 2021-2022 Covid-19 Risk Mitigation Plan, which you can access by clicking here, is now available. 

The following are key points from the District’s Plan:

Warwick Valley CSD 2021-22 Covid-19 Risk Mitigation Plan – Summary

Communication

New York State has not reestablished its New York State Covid-19 Report Card. In the absence of this NYS site, the District will report any Covid-19 cases via community updates. 

Health & Safety

In instructional areas, the District will maintain a physical distance of three feet or more between students. A distance of six feet between students and teachers/staff is recommended.

Any cases of Covid-19 infection will be reported to the Orange County Department of Health (OCDOH), and contact tracing will begin right away.

Daily Attestations (i.e.,Covid Health Survey) will no longer be required. However, students and staff who are ill should refrain from attending school.

The District, per guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and OCDOH, defines a “close contact” as someone who was within six feet of an infected person (laboratory-confirmed or a clinically compatible illness) for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period. For example: three separate 5-minute exposures for a total of 15 minutes. Exception: In the K–12 indoor classroom setting, the “close contact” definition excludes students who were within three to six feet of an infected student (laboratory-confirmed or a clinically compatible illness) if both the infected student and the exposed student(s) correctly and consistently wore well-fitting masks the entire time.

Individuals who have been fully vaccinated are not subject to quarantine unless they are symptomatic.

Since the CDC is no longer recommending desk shields, we have suspended their use in classrooms this year.

Transportation

Bus service will resume on a regular basis, which includes regular student capacity.

A return to more normal busing levels should also help to reduce traffic in and around our schools.

The following CDC order regarding masks was issued in January 2021 and requires that “[a]ll passengers on public conveyances… traveling into, within, or out of the United States… regardless of their vaccination status, are required to wear a mask over their nose and mouth.” This order applies to all forms of public transportation, including school buses. 

Teaching, Learning, Schedules & Extracurriculars

Warwick Valley CSD will resume full in-person schooling for all students in grades K-12. 

The school day for elementary students will start at 8:55 a.m. and end at 3:35 p.m. The school day for middle school and high school students will start at 7:40 a.m. and end at 2:30 p.m.

Students who are at risk of failing to meet NYS Learning Standards will continue to be eligible for Academic Intervention Services.

All athletics and extracurricular activities are currently scheduled as usual. Section IX is likely to allow for indoor activities, with a requirement that all athletes and spectators, regardless of vaccination status, wear masks. Outdoor activities will not require the use of masks.

Schools will be fully open for all students beginning Thursday, September 2, 2021. Class schedules and educational programs will return to pre-pandemic norms. 

Facilities

The District will limit non-essential visitors, volunteers, and activities involving outside groups or organizations.

During the school day, at night, and when necessary due to a suspected or confirmed case of Covid-19, facilities will be cleaned.

All essential visitors will be required to wear masks to enter a school building.

We are continuing to improve ventilation in all of our buildings. The District’s ventilation plan calls for introducing as much outside air into the building as possible. All unit ventilators and air handlers have been thoroughly cleaned and serviced. The District changed all filters before the start of the school year, and they are on a regular replacement schedule.

Lunch will be served in cafeterias and some non-traditional spaces, with a physical distance of six feet used whenever possible.

We will utilize outdoor space(s) as much as possible in keeping with the instructional goals of a lesson and in support of the social-emotional well being of students. 

The situation remains fluid, and we will keep our school community updated on developments as they occur. 

Please be assured that we will make mid-course adjustments as needed. Our schools are prepared if Covid-19 transmission levels rise significantly and the NYSDOH requires additional risk reduction. When transmission levels drop and the NYSDOH permits risk mitigation strategies to be reduced, our schools will adjust accordingly.

Principals will provide you with more site-specific information and details over the next few days. If you have any student- or schedule-related questions, please contact your children’s schools directly.

Sincerely,

David Leach

Superintendent of Schools