The following letter from the superintendent was emailed to parents and guardians on Friday afternoon, Nov. 20, 2020:
Dear parents/guardians,
The district learned on the morning of Friday, Nov. 20, a member of the Schoharie CSD community tested positive for COVID-19.
We are working closely with the Schoharie County Department of Health to help them trace the contacts this person had in our school building and on district property. At this time, the local health department, as a precaution, has advised specific individuals to quarantine and/or to be tested due to a limited risk of transmission. These individuals either have been contacted by the health department or are in the process of being contacted. The individual who tested positive is believed to have followed COVID-19 protocols at all times, in accordance with the district’s safety plan.
The non-instructional space where this individual was located this week was in the Jr./Sr. High School and that space has been shut down by the district. Any Schoharie CSD individuals known to have been in that space were immediately identified and isolated.
Please note that The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and other privacy laws restrict us from disclosing or confirming any personally identifiable information. We cannot identify anyone who has tested positive.
Since the start of the school year, the district has been thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting all portions of our school building that are in use by students and staff, in accordance with guidance from the New York State Department of Health and the CDC. For details about our cleaning procedures, COVID prevention policies, contact tracing, testing and more, please see our Reopening Plan. In addition, a COVID screening is done for all students and staff members prior to the start of the school day.
At this time, our district remains open for in-person instruction under the guidance of the Schoharie Department of Health and it is expected at this time that in-person instruction will continue next week as scheduled. Please contact your child’s principal if you would like more information about our health and safety procedures. We will release more information about this situation as it becomes available.
Any additional questions, including information about contact tracing and testing procedures, can be directed to the Schoharie County Health Department (518) 295-8365.
Sincerely,
David Blanchard
Superintendent of Schools