A message from the Superintendent

Superintendent’s Update #24

January 3, 2022

Dear Chappaqua Central School District Families,

I hope this email finds you well. I would like to share with you information related to our opening this morning, our current COVID positive cases, and information to help you plan forward.

Building Meetings with Faculty
This morning our principals held faculty meetings to review social distancing expectations, appropriate hand hygiene practices, and the fluidity with which we will need to support students learning remotely. We also discussed moving meetings with parents, and each other, to zoom whenever possible to reduce potential exposure. Your building administrative team is ready to support you and our faculty as we address the complexities associated with the new strain of this virus.

Staff Attendance
The percentage of faculty who were absent today was 12%.

This percentage may increase in the days ahead. While we have ample substitute support and our administrative team will be creative in combining classes, when possible, while also maintaining social distance expectations, this may become unsustainable if our absentee rates increase. We are committed to keeping our schools open, but all families must be ready to move to remote instruction should the need arise.

Remote Access
The following is the criteria for remote access for individual students and staff:

Remote Access for Individual Students/Staff

There are four groups who can access our program remotely:

1

Individuals who are directed in writing to quarantine due to COVID-19 exposure by the NYSDOH, the WCDOH or the pediatrician (this includes students excluded from school by CCSD due to exposure).

2

Individuals who test positive for COVID-19.

3

Individuals who are symptomatic and provide documentation to the school nurse of a pending COVID-19 test.

4

Students who are medically fragile and unable to be vaccinated (please contact Jamie Edelman, Interim Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Personnel Services (JaEdelman@chappaquaschools.org) if you feel your child may qualify).

I have been asked why we are not offering the option for all students to elect remote instruction. Remote instruction impacts the entire classroom environment and is a tremendous strain on our program and resources. Last year, public school districts were required to support a remote option for families and certain staff based on medical needs. At this time, neither the Department of Health nor the NYS Education Department has made this a requirement for the 21/22 academic year. We will continue to follow their guidance as we plan forward.

If you feel your family has a unique situation, and you believe your child may need to learn remotely at this time, please contact Ms. Jamie Edelman, Interim Assistant Superintendent of Pupil Personnel Services. While zooming into our classes will not be an option outside of the above criteria, we may be able to support instruction for your child through BOCES using iTutor or EducCere tutoring services.

Results from District Testing on 1/2/22 & 1/3/22:

Number Tested

Number Who Tested Positive

694

44  51 (as of 1/4 at 12:26pm)

I would like to sincerely thank our nursing team, staff and administrators who organized testing for our students so that we could ensure all families who wanted their children tested before we opened could do so. I also want to thank our parents who brought students to be tested on Sunday for their patience and understanding–the line was longer than we would have liked, and I apologize if this caused an inconvenience for you and your family.

Number of New COVID-19 Positive Cases
Lab Confirmed & Reported To WCDOH
1/1/22 - 1/3/22
As of 1PM

School

New Cases by Bldg.
Person WAS infectious while onsite

New Cases by Bldg.
Person was NOT Infectious while onsite

New Individuals Excluded from Bldg. due to Onsite Exposure

Roaring Brook

-

8

-

Westorchard

-

14

-

Grafflin

-

10

-

Bell

-

11

-

Seven Bridges

-

12

-

Greeley

2

26

-

District Office/Maintenance

-

-

-

Total
(1/1-1/3)

2

81

0

These numbers include District testing from 1/2/22 and 1/3/22.


Number of New COVID-19 Positive Cases
Home Test (not reported to WCDOH)
1/1/22 - 1/3/22
As of 1PM

School

# of Positive Tests

School

# of Positive Tests

Roaring Brook

6

Bell

13

Westorchard

4

Seven Bridges

11

Grafflin

5

Horace Greeley

18

District Office/Maintenance

0

Total

57

The WCDOH has instructed school districts to not report cases and close contacts of individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 on home tests.

Testing will continue to be available every Monday from 3-5pm at Seven Bridges Middle School. We will extend this program to vaccinated students through January. If you would like your child to be tested on Monday afternoon, please visit the CCSD COVID Testing Management System. As a reminder, now that we are back in session, if your child tests positive for COVID-19 on a home, rapid or PCR test, please email the building principal and the school nurse.

Thank you for your understanding and support. This is an evolving situation and I will update you as appropriate. Please reach out to your building leadership team with any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Christine Ackerman, PhD
Superintendent of Schools