Superintendent Update #2 Regarding Coronavirus- March 9, 2020
March 9, 2020
Dear Members of the Warwick Valley Central School District Community,
Allow me to provide you once again with an update on our plan and response to the Coronavirus. No reported cases of the Coronavirus are directly connected to the Warwick Valley Central School District at this time. However, this is a fluid and evolving situation and can change quickly.
Please read my initial letter dated March 3, 2020, for a summary of our plans about prevention practices, cleaning, and our ongoing collaboration with outside agencies. Moreover, please see our new webpage link for more information.
At this moment, here are some district decisions all made with a commitment to extreme caution. Our primary concern is the safety of our students, staff, and community.
Today, the District was informed that a teacher at Sanfordville Elementary School has been in contact with a family member who was in direct contact with a novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) infected person (i.e., Contact of Contact). While the New York State and The Orange County Health Department did not advise or suggest the District take any action, out of an abundance of caution, the teacher will remain out of work for at least 14 days. The teacher did not report to work today. It is important to note that neither the teacher nor his/her relative have shown signs of illness. If the person/contact remains asymptomatic, those who have had “contact with a contact” such as family members, neighbors and friends are not usually subject to quarantine. “Contacts of Contacts” are considered low risk. Regardless, this evening the administration called all of the parents of children who work directly with the teacher.
This afternoon, all faculty participated in a briefing. In that briefing, we reviewed protocols to address smart hygiene practices and discussed potential next steps.
The District is currently considering our practice of hosting large scale gatherings and events at the schools. We will remain responsive to the guidance we receive from our governmental public health partners, and we will continue to review our approach.
Any activities that may interfere with building cleaning protocols will be canceled. For instance, parent conferences scheduled to take place at the middle and high school this week are canceled. Teachers will reach out to all parents who have scheduled appointments to discuss their children’s progress.
The District has not authorized or sponsored any overseas travel as part of our educational program. Unfortunately, we have also canceled field trips to specific venues and will carefully continue to review each proposed trip moving forward.
The District has decided to postpone decisions about give back days/unused snow days as we monitor this rapidly evolving situation. It is not prudent to designate their use at this time.
As required by law, the District will work directly with the Orange County Health Department and follow their directives and restrictions to ensure the safety of our school community.
Once again, I want to stress that we are NOT aware of any confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Warwick. The uncertainty of this situation can be stressful for us all. By supporting one another, our school community will successfully navigate whatever lies ahead.
Please anticipate frequent updates as new information becomes available.
Sincerely,
David Leach