Robert Frost Closed Due To Coronavirus Cases

DEER PARK, NY — A Deer Park middle school will be closed for three days this week due to coronavirus cases and adjusted its plans for virtual learning for the week after Thanksgiving holiday.

In a letter to the community, Superintendent Jim Cummings stated that a staff member from Robert Frost Middle School tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday and then another unrelated employee at the school also tested positive on Saturday.

After the case on Friday, the district began conducting a contact tracing investigation, which found that several other employees were deemed to be in close contact and therefore had to quarantine.

While the letter did not state how many staff members were in quarantine, Cummings wrote that it was enough to make opening the school "a difficult task."

As a result, the school decided to switch to fully remote for all staff and students from Monday through Wednesday this week. All other school buildings in the district remain open. The schools will be closed Thursday and Friday for the Thanksgiving holiday.

In addition, Cummings stated that "unless the facts change," following the Thanksgiving break, from Monday, Nov. 30 through Friday, Dec. 4, all 7th and 8th graders at Robert Frost will remain on full remote learning.

"This will allow staff members who are healthy but need to remain quarantined an opportunity to teach their classes," Cummings wrote.

However the 6th grade students will continue to attend school in person.

"None of the staff who needs to be quarantined impact our ability to have the 6th grade in person," Cummings wrote.

Cummings also added that he "firmly believes" that children learn best through in person instruction and that health officials continue to state that the schools are safe.

"However at times, we are presented with circumstances that cause us to make decisions in the short term that will allow us to continue to operate in the long term," he wrote.