East End coronavirus school closings include Sag Harbor and Greenport public schools, and the private Hayground School, officials in those districts announced late Wednesday.
The closings came after Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone announced six confirmed cases of COVID-19, all apparently due to community spread, and warned residents to expect an increase in the number of cases as testing ramps up.
Officials in other East End districts have announced they are monitoring the situation. Some have limited before/after school activities.
On Shelter Island, the school will host an informational meeting Thursday, March 12, 7PM in the school gym. It will be broadcast on the Town’s public access, Channel 22. And, you can watch a recording later on the Town Hall service: https://www.townhallstreams.com/towns/shelter_island_ny
At the meeting, Shelter Island Chief of Police James Read, who leads the Town’s emergency response team, will provide general information about the response to the novel coronavirus. School officials will provide information about alternative strategies for providing instruction in the event the Shelter Island School closes.
[You can read about Bellone’s Wednesday news conference in this Gazette post.]
Coronavirus school closings
Here are the details about our neighboring districts:
Sag Harbor Schools close through March 22
In a letter to parents and guardians on Wednesday, March 10, Sag Harbor school administrators announced the closure, effective immediately. The Pre-K to grade 12 district serves about 950 students. The letter was posted on the school website, https://www.sagharborschools.org.
“While there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 within our schools, in an effort to be proactive in protecting the health and safety of our school community, effective tomorrow Thursday, March 12, Sag Harbor Schools will be closed for students through Sunday, March 22,” the letter said.
“Future decisions regarding school closures will continue to be based on protecting the health and safety of our school community.”
“Faculty and staff will report to school Thursday, March 12 and Friday, March 13,” the letter said. “During these two days, they will further develop learning opportunities for students to access while school is not in session.”
The letter was signed by Eleanor Tritt, interim superintendent of schools, and the school principals: Jeff Nichols at the high school, Brittany Carriero at the middle school, and Matt Malone at the elementary school.
Greenport Schools close for two days
Greenport schools are closed for two days in response to the virus that causes COVID-19, the district said. It posted a notice Wednesday night on its website, http://gufsd.org.
“Although the district has not received a positive result of COVID-19 in a student or staff member, we have made the decision to close tomorrow, Thursday, March 12 and Friday, March 13,” the notice said.
“This is out of an abundance of caution and will allow the District to complete a deep, thorough cleaning of the building. We will remain in constant contact with the Suffolk County Department of Health.”
Hayground School closes for two days
The Hayground School will close for two days to weigh COVID-19 concerns and plan for possible extended closure, the faculty chair announced to parents/guardians in an email Wednesday evening.
The private school in Bridgehampton serves 76 students in grades Pre-K to 8. It will be closed through the remainder of the week so that faculty can review concerns relating to the novel coronavirus, the email said.
“We have decided to close Hayground … to review and fully inform ourselves about how best to protect our community from the spread of the virus,” faculty chair Marcelle Langendal wrote to parents and guardians.
“We also need to spend sustained time studying how we will address any remote learning should we need to be closed for any extended amount of time,” he said in the letter.
The school had previously planned a faculty day for Friday with no classes for students. Parents/guardians are welcome to call with questions, 631-537-7068.