A message from the Superintendent

Superintendent's Update #12

October 29, 2021

Dear Chappaqua Central School District Families,

I hope this email finds you well. I am writing to share an Updated Testing and Quarantine Supplemental Information Memo written by the NYS Department of Health to Local Health Departments (LHD) on October 27, 2021.

This notification outlines different practices related to quarantine that could be considered by LHDs. For our District, the Westchester County Department of Health is the entity responsible for deciding whether or not we will be able to adopt any of the following practices:

Test to Stay (TTS): TTS is a strategy that allows close contacts to avoid school exclusion (but not other parameters of quarantine) by testing negative with a rapid NAAT or antigen test on each school day, for seven days after exposure.

COVID-19 Testing to Permit Return to School After Symptoms: NYSDOH is amending its guidance to allow people who either (a) are fully vaccinated, or (b) have had a COVID-19 infection within the last 90 days to return to school following a negative antigen test result. People who are not fully vaccinated and/or who have not had COVID-19 within the last 90 days must receive a negative NAAT result prior to returning to school after developing symptoms unless the criteria established in the Commissioner’s Determination on COVID-19 Testing Pursuant to 10 NYCRR 2.62 (September 2, 2021) are met.

Test Out of Quarantine: When diagnostic testing resources are sufficient and available, then quarantine can end after Day 7 if a diagnostic specimen tests negative and if no symptoms were reported during daily monitoring. The specimen may be collected and tested within 48 hours before the time of planned quarantine discontinuation (e.g., in anticipation of testing delays), but quarantine cannot be discontinued earlier than after Day 7.

Should the Westchester County Department of Health move forward with any of the above practices and share this decision with school districts, in writing, I will send this to you immediately. As of right now, there are no changes to our current close contact identification or school exclusion practices.

I would also like to mention that I understand this is a weekend where many of our students and families gather together to celebrate Halloween. It is my hope you all enjoy this time together and celebrate safely by engaging in activities with limited risk for exposure to COVID-19.

Sincerely,

Christine Ackerman, PhD
Superintendent of Schools