October 29, 2020
Dear Hastings Families,
We were notified this afternoon that a Hastings High School student tested positive for COVID-19. The student is part of the green cohort that attends on Thursday and Friday. The student has not been in school since October 23. The sibling of the student is also in high school and a member of the green cohort. Both students were not in school today.
The contact tracing process is underway. We know at least nine teachers had contact with the student when the student was in school on October 22 & 23. One teacher works in the Farragut Middle School, however, this teacher is considered a contact of a contact that doesn’t result in Farragut going into remote or students, faculty, and staff being quarantined. There is no connection to Hillside Elementary School.
Lou Adipietro and Melissa Hardesty are preparing the contact information of students and teachers to share with the Westchester County Department of Health who initiates the contact tracing. At this time, we are not aware that the athletic program is impacted. The high school administrators will also notify students and teachers who were in contact with the student so that they are not surprised when they hear from the New York State Department of Health contact tracer.
Based on past experience, the teachers and the classmates of the student who tested positive will have to be quarantined. Because of the number of teachers affected, Hastings High School will be on remote learning starting tomorrow, October 30-November 6. Since the high school will be disinfected and sanitized tomorrow, no faculty and staff will be permitted into the high school. On Monday, November 1, all faculty and staff will return to the high school to conduct remote learning except for the teachers who are quarantined. They will conduct remote learning from their homes.
If anyone has COVID symptoms, a rapid test is recommended by the Westchester County Department of Health. However, if this test is negative, please follow up with a Molecular PCR test. Please review our Return to School or Work protocol listed on pages 20-22 of our School Reopening Plan. If you have questions, please contact Lou Adipietro, Melissa Hardesty, or Nurse Joanne Cipollina.
We hope the student who tested positive is doing well and has a speedy recovery.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation and understanding.
Sincerely,
Valerie Henning-Piedmonte, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
