District outlines COVID protocols for new school year

By Laura Giner
Posted 8/25/21

Amid growing concerns about the increase of the Coronavirus and the Delta variant in the area, Dr Roberto Padilla, Superintendent of The Newburgh Enlarged City School District (NECSD) addressed the …

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District outlines COVID protocols for new school year

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Amid growing concerns about the increase of the Coronavirus and the Delta variant in the area, Dr Roberto Padilla, Superintendent of The Newburgh Enlarged City School District (NECSD) addressed the families of the district in a virtual Town Hall meeting last week.

During the one hour live event, Padilla sought to inform all stakeholders of the measures the district has put in place and to provide protocols that families can use at home to safeguard their children. He said that all decisions the District has made regarding school opening are based on the same Four Commitments employed at the end of last year. These include the commitments to utilize “mitigation measures to preserve and protect the health and safety of our staff, high quality instruction, educational equity, and to provide families with timely and accurate communication.”

Stakeholders have been made aware that with very few exceptions, students will return to school with a five day a week, in-school instruction model. The hybrid model that was followed last year will not be an option. Addressing the uncertainty that exists due the spread of the virus, Padilla assured families that should the district need to close schools suddenly as it did in March 0f 2020, the district will be ready to make the changes seamlessly.

“We are finalizing our plans to make sure that in the event the schools must close, we are ready to go and teaching and learning will not be hindered,” he told the gathering.

Based on guidance given by the CDC, the American Pediatric Association, and The Orange County Department of Health, Dr. Padilla said that at the present time, they are “urging everyone regardless of vaccination status to wear masks and social distancing will be three ft apart.” Following the science, all adults and students above the age of 12 are urged to get vaccinated. Since children under the age of 12 have not been vaccinated, wearing masks is that much more important. Padilla has also been advised that with the incoming governor, wearing masks will no longer be urged but it is “expected that masks will be mandated in the schools.” Children who ride buses are required to wear masks on the bus but social distancing is not yet required. All unvaccinated adults will be required to be tested for COVID once a week and unvaccinated students participating in Division Nine athletics may be required to partake in surveillance testing. There is no requirement as of yet for children under the age of 12 to be tested on a weekly basis.

Guidance has shifted regarding quarantines and isolation. No longer will all who have been on the same bus or in the same classroom with someone who has tested positive be required to quarantine. Instead, quarantine should happen far less. According to Padilla, those who are eligible to be vaccinated but have not yet been will be subject to more frequent quarantines. Those who are out due to quarantine, will attend school on a synchronous schedule. This means they will log into their class when the school day begins and attendance will be taken for each class. Students who fall under the category of “medically fragile,” a designation that will be treated on a case-by-case basis and will need to be approved by the District’s Director of Health may need to learn by remote. In that case they will receive their instruction through BOCES.

Throughout the meeting Padilla reiterated the stringent protocols the schools are following regarding health and safety measures. He added that because of monies procured by the state, this year all ventilation systems and filters have been readied for the coming year.

When the Town Hall meeting turned to the Q & A session, it was evident that anxiety about children receiving in person instruction remains for some. Michelle Morris, a parent and hospital worker, expressed her displeasure in not being given the option for her grandson to learn by remote, “I work in this environment everyday. I see the ICU, the OR, I see people who wear masks and have been vaccinated who still get COVID. How do we know where the kids, parents are going and where they are hanging out. They can be passing the virus to their kids. I do not feel comfortable for my kid to be in school. “ After thanking Ms. Morris for her service, he then explained though he is not a doctor it should be kept in mind that the mask is one part of a series of protocols to mitigate the spread of the virus, it lessons the degree to which the virus can spread and importantly, it is not the only strategy. He also cited data that indicated the level of the spread of the virus was higher in children that stayed home than students who came to school . Wendy LoFaro expressed another concern, “What about parents who have severe health conditions? I am a severe asthmatic. My children did very well last year working remotely. What options do we have? Why isn’t there an option for at home schooling?” Dr. Thomas responded, “If you are immunized, that should give you some protection.”

“We recognize your concerns and I must say, they are rightly put,” Padilla said. “This is a serious matter.”