Message From
the Superintendent of Schools – November
20,2020 COVID Update
Dear Freeport
Families,
I hope you and
your family are safe and healthy. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to create
shifts in the way we live our daily lives, I thank you for partnering with
Freeport Public Schools in our joint efforts to keep our children, families and
community safe. Together, we are Freeport Strong and doing the very best we can
to continue provide our students with the best opportunities in safe, caring
environments.
As you may be
aware, there has been a recent rise in COVID-19 infection rates in Nassau
County, across Long Island, and the nation. The number of confirmed positive
COVID-19 cases in Freeport Public Schools has been relatively low. It is
important to note, that no confirmed case has led to additional cases being
reported as a result of attending school. All cases have been contracted from
outside our schools. Our data is reported to the NYS New York Forward COVID-19 Report Card. You can view the positive
case data for school districts including Freeport Public Schools at the
following link: https://schoolcovidreportcard.health.ny.gov/#/searchResults.
The District
continues to work diligently to ensure that our schools are as safe as possible
for students and staff. We have no control beyond our school buildings. Our
highest priority continues to be to provide a safe and healthy learning
environment for our students, faculty, and staff. Governor Cuomo, County
Executive Laura Curran and the Nassau County Department of Health Commissioner
have all stated that the data shows that students are safest when in school.
The Freeport
Public Schools Reopening Plan is in compliance with all required COVID-19
guidelines and protocols as determined by the governor’s office, the New York
State Education Department, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
and the Nassau County Department of Health (NCDOH). Health protocols including
daily temperature checks, wearing face masks with regular mask breaks for
students, social distancing, and frequent hand washing are enforced in all
schools. Buildings are regularly cleaned and sanitized to ensure a healthy
environment.
The State has
protocols in place to close communities, including the schools, if the
infection rate in a community is considered too high. Governor Cuomo
implemented a cluster action initiative to address COVID-19 hot spots as they
occur. This approach focuses on addressing these clusters and aims to prevent
further community-wide transmission of the virus, and includes new rules and
restrictions directly targeted to areas with the highest concentration of
COVID-19 cases and surrounding communities. The initiative divides clusters and
the areas around them into three categories – the cluster itself (red zone), a
warning zone (orange zone), and a precautionary zone (yellow zone).
For
more information on the micro-cluster zones, please follow this link to the
State website: https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-details-covid-19-micro-cluster-metrics
At
this time, Freeport and our neighboring communities are not considered in any
of these zones. Based on the metrics, if such a designation were to occur in
the days to come, the District will take necessary and appropriate action. We
will keep you informed.
COVID-19
Communication Protocols:
In the event a
student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, the following protocols
and communication procedures are implemented:
• Once the
school district has been informed of a confirmed positive COVID-19 case the
district’s reporting and notification team take action. Several procedures
occur simultaneously including case confirmation and contact tracing.
• The person,
who tested positive, or a family member in the case of a student, is contacted
by the district and asked a series of questions to begin the contact tracing
process. This information is shared with the NCDOH to assist them with contact
tracing.
• The school
district reports all confirmed COVID-19 cases to the Nassau Department of
Health and follow their recommendations.
• Anyone who
tests positive for COVID-19 must remain out of school and quarantined for 10
days and must present a negative COVID-19 test result to the school district
before returning to school.
• Based upon
the facts, and in consultation with the NCDOH, a decision is made by district
administration regarding whether or not a school will remain open or temporarily
transition to remote learning. Appropriate
building cleaning protocols are also determined.
• Out of an
abundance of caution, if it is deemed necessary to do a precautionary quarantine
for any students or staff, the families and staff are notified and the quarantine
if for 14 days.
• The district
closely monitors the situation until the case has been resolved and the student
and/or staff member presents a negative COVID-19 test result and returns to
school.
Freeport
Public Schools provides communication regarding a COVID-19 related case on a
case-by-case basis that directly involves students, staff, or school buildings
Necessary communications, as determined by the NCDOH, will be conducted on an
individual basis and will be initiated upon receipt of a positive COVID-19
result with no communication necessary or taken for suspected cases.
• It is
important to remember that every case is different. The protocols implemented
for each case follow the NCDOH guidelines on a case-by-case basis.
• Those
students and/or staff who are determined to be directly impacted by the
positive COVID-19 case are personally contacted regarding quarantine
requirements and NCDOH recommended next steps.
• Families of
students in the school where the positive COVID-19 case is reported are
contacted by email followed by a letter.
We all care
for the well-being of our students. The upcoming holidays and breaks are a
concern for us. Please help us in keeping our schools open for in-person
learning. Kindly assist us in preventing the spread of COVID19 in our schools
by practicing self-care and following the protocols of M-S-W: Wear Masks, Social
Distance, and Wash your hands. If your child has a fever or shows any symptoms of
COVID, please do not send your child to school. If you or your child has
traveled, it is vital to follow the travel quarantine protocols and do not send
your child to school. If any member of your family is positive for COVID, your
child must quarantine for 14 days and cannot be in school. By working together,
we can prevent COVID from spreading.
If you have
any questions, regarding the COVID-19 health and safety protocols implemented
in Freeport Public Schools or has any questions regarding the district’s
communication procedures please contact your school building principal. Please
be safe and be healthy.
Sincerely,
Dr. Kishore Kuncham
Happy Thanksgiving!
Dear Freeport Families,
It seems like we were just planning to begin the school year
and here we are in November 2020. The air is crisp, the fallen leaves crunch
under our feet, and the world has become filled with the vibrant colors of the
season. Our thoughts turn to family gatherings and Thanksgiving. As with everything else this year, Thanksgiving
comes with the disclaimer that it won’t be the same holiday as usual. There
will be an adjustment because of COVID, and many of us will opt to Zoom with
friends and family rather than risk the usual get together. We have become
masters of the virtual event which has been a saving grace although not quite
as fulfilling as the real thing. Yet, the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday is
still real. We are grateful for the people and blessings in our lives. Despite
the pandemic that has sadly impacted lives globally and economic and racial
tensions that have pulled at the fabric of our society, there is still good in
our lives and much to appreciate. There is much we have learned and gained
during these difficult times that will move us forward in the years to come.
Focusing on the good things in our lives is an uplifting,
positive experience that is important for our well-being. It leads to optimism and
happiness. I am grateful for the efforts of our staff, students and families to
make it possible for us to reopen our schools and bring more students back in
person. It has been a complex undertaking that has required the commitment of
everyone working together. We did not get here alone. I appreciate the team
spirit, the kindnesses shared from our community, and the willingness to adapt
in order to provide the best and safest opportunities for our students.
I hope you have a peaceful and joyous Thanksgiving break. However
you are celebrating this Thanksgiving, I hope you relax, enjoy and are together,
live or virtually, with your loved ones. Please be safe and follow the
protocols to remain healthy. We are here for each other and remain Freeport
Strong together. Wishing you and your families a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Sincerely,
Dr. Kishore Kuncham