COVID-19

5-20-2022

Who can still attend after a known exposure?

NYSDOH "quarantine" guidance chart

This excerpt is from the March 1st NYSDOH update (link to NYSDOH letter)

  Quarantine Exception for Schools and Child Care Programs (K-12)

• Exposed or potentially exposed (e.g. in a classroom with an infected individual for at least 15 minutes) students, teachers, and staff who must quarantine because they are not up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines (i.e., are unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or are eligible for a booster but have not received one) can attend or work at school, school-based extracurricular activities, and eligible childcare programs for school-age children (see definition below) during the quarantine period if they undergo recommended testing. However, these individuals must continue to quarantine as otherwise required outside of school. • Eligible childcare programs for school age children (typically programs such as early drop-off, late-stay, and after-care) include school-administered child care programs and programs licensed or permitted by OCFS to care for school age children. Programs licensed or permitted by OCFS might have additional requirements. • The above exceptions to quarantine for school and childcare attendance also apply to pre-K classes when located in schools with older grades, but not to other early childhood care/early childhood education settings.  

 

January 27, 2022
Hello, 


I want to take a moment and thank the Granville community for their continued partnership throughout this period of the pandemic, especially during this incredibly challenging and confusing week. Unfortunately, a great deal of misinformation has circulated throughout the state, and I want to thank you for your continued patience.


Since the pandemic began, school districts throughout New York State have been working hard to navigate the ever-changing guidance and state mandates issued with little or no advanced communication from the state agencies. This has been an incredible challenge. However, please understand that agree or disagree, we are required to comply with the regulatory agencies' determinations.


Earlier today, the Attorney General's Office notified New York state school districts that there will not be oral arguments regarding the state's appeal of the Nassau County Supreme Court decision on Friday. The Friday, January 28th deadline reported is a deadline for parties to submit briefs. Therefore, it is improbable that there will be a decision from the Appellate Court tomorrow or the weekend. As a result, New York State's requirement for masking in school remains in effect until further notice. 


If any new information is provided, we will do our best to communicate any changes in protocols as soon as possible.


As a district, we understand how frustrating and confusing this has been. We feel your frustration and have been working with our state representatives on how New York State can move forward and return to some sense of normalcy as soon as possible.  




Update on Mask Mandate 

1/25/22 @ 5:35 pm


As you are no doubt aware, on January 24, 2022, the Nassau County Supreme Court ruled in the matter of Demetriou et al. v. New York State Dep’t of Health et al. that the Department of Health exceeded its authority in enacting the school masking regulation, 10 NYCRR 2.60.  Since that time there has been significant confusion and misinformation regarding the impact of Demetriou on public school districts and whether or not the masking regulation remains in effect or has been “stayed”. 

Earlier today the Governor and the State Department of Health filed an appeal to the Demetriou decision.  This afternoon arguments were heard before the Appellate Division, Second Department on the issue of the status of the masking regulation.  At this time we can inform you that the Appellate Court has temporarily stayed the Order and Decision set forth in Demetriou through at least January 28, 2022, to permit the parties an opportunity for additional arguments on that date.  

In light of this ruling, public school districts in New York State remain subject to the Department of Health masking regulation at least through January 28, 2022.  As such, all faculty, staff, students and visitors to the district are expected to be masked.

We will continue to monitor these proceedings and inform of additional developments as they arise.
January 25., 2022

Good Morning,

Last evening, we became aware of the court case from Nassau County, NY, in which the County Supreme Court Thomas Rademaker issued a ruling that the state Department of Health exceeded its authority in enacting the mask regulation, 10 NYCRR 2.60. The case is called Demetriou et al. v. New York State Dep’t of Health et al.

Subsequently, schools received the following message from the State Education Department

“A state judge on Long Island has ruled that the state’s mask mandate is unconstitutional and a violation of state law, but more litigation is expected. As a result, nothing changes for schools, according to a statement from the State Education Department (SED).

"It is SED’s understanding that the Department of Health will appeal the Nassau County Supreme Court decision, which will result in an automatic stay that will unambiguously restore the mask rule until such time as an appellate court issues a further ruling," according to SED’s statement, which was sent to superintendents. "Therefore, schools must continue to follow the mask rule.”

The Granville Central School District will abide by the State Education Department’s directive as we learn more about the ruling, consult with our school attorney and the aforementioned appeal and any potential stay.

As of this moment, we don’t have any additional information to share, but please know, as always, as soon as we have additional information we will pass it along to your attention.

As always, thank you for all of your efforts to partner with us to keep our schools open this year.  


------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hello,

As you most likely are aware, health and safety guidance from the state and local health departments related to COVID-19 continues to evolve. As always, we remain committed to keeping our students in school, while providing a safe learning environment for all. We also remain committed to providing staff and families with clear, updated information on the latest guidance as it relates to COVID-19 testing, quarantine and isolation.

Effective immediately, the Granville Central School District will use the following protocols when allowing students to return to school if they have symptoms of COVID-19, test positive for COVID-19 or are considered exposed to an individual with COVID-19. These protocols are based on the most recent updates from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the New York State Department of Health and local health departments.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/quarantine-isolation.html;  https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2022/01/Quarantine%20and%20Isolation%20Guidance_1.14.22.pdf

Please know that this information is subject to change at any time. If you have specific concerns or questions regarding your child, please contact Mrs. Hover at 518-642-1051 (ext. 1314) or Mrs. Nichols 518-642-1051 (ext. 1315).

One of the biggest changes you can expect is that the New York State Department of Health will no longer conduct contact tracing. This means that individuals potentially exposed to COVID-19 will no longer be contacted by their local department of health. Going forward, we will no longer be collecting information about contacts to report to county health departments. Positive cases by grade level and for staff will be listed on the school’s website on a daily basis for your monitoring. These numbers may not match the daily reporting numbers listed on the NYS website for a variety of uncontrollable factors.

Link to Daily Numbers

Please note that there will be unique situations when the need to identify close contacts is warranted due to a direct COVID exposure. Particular attention will be paid to staff and students at high risk for severe disease, as well as those times and locations where there may be fewer layers of mitigation in place (e.g., classes with students who are unable to wear a mask due to a documented medical issue and/or disabilities).

What to do if a student or staff member has been exposed to COVID-19

  • If the student or staff member is up-to-date on their COVID vaccinations, as defined by the CDC https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html they may come to school. 

  • If student or staff member tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 90 days, they may come to school.

  • If the student or staff member is not up-to-date on their COVID vaccination and has not tested positive in the last 90 days, they will be excluded from school for at least five days after their last close contact with an individual with COVID-19.

What to do if a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19

  • Regardless of vaccination status, if a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19 they must isolate for a full five days.

  • If the student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19 and took an Over-the-Counter (i.e., at-home, take-home) test parents, guardians or staff should report the results to at the following NYS website: https://washingtoncountyny.gov/1147/Coronavirus-Information

  • In order for students or staff who have tested positive and have had symptoms to return to school after five days, they must:

    • Be fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication and their symptoms must be resolving.

Regardless of whether or not there is a known exposure to COVID-19, it is very important that students or staff who are sick do not attend school. Remote learning will continue to be provided for students who are quarantined as a result of a positive COVID 19 test.

What to do if a student or staff member has symptoms of COVID-19

  • Regardless of vaccination status, if a student or staff member has COVID-19 symptoms they must have a negative lab test, or two negative Over-the-Counter (i.e., at-home or take-home) antigen tests taken 36 hours apart, in order to return to school. At home tests will be provided by the district as long as they are available.

  • If parents, guardians or staff are presenting the district with two negative Over-the-Counter antigen tests, they must also complete the testing attestation form at the following link:

    Link to Attestation of testing form

  • If a student or staff member tests positive, please follow the guidelines in What to do if a student or staff tests positive for COVID-19 listed above.  

Additional quarantine and isolation information can be found on our local county department of health website, as well as the New York State Department of Health and CDC websites

Thank you for your continued partnership as we work to keep our students and staff healthy, and our students in school. If you have any questions or concerns about COVID-19 testing or other health and safety protocols, please do not hesitate to call.



 

Thomas D. McGurl

Superintendent of Schools