Hicksville Public Schools Unveil First Day Of School In Virus Era

HICKSVILLE, NY — For students in Hicksville Public Schools, the long summer will extend well into mid-September.

The district said Tuesday it will open for the 2020-21 school year on Monday, Sept. 14. A resolution was adopted by unanimous vote at a Board of Education meeting an Aug. 19 to open Sept. 14. The extra time would allow for four full days of staff development during Superintendent’s Conference Days, scheduled for Sept 8-11.

Marianne Litzman, the new superintendent, called it "critical" that all staff receive training on the "many new procedures"required under pandemic guidelines, which were set down by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and the state departments of health and education.

The district said parents who send their children to in-school instruction (kindergarten through fifth grade) or a hybrid instruction model of both in-person and remote learning (sixth through 12th grade) should familiarize themselves with health and safety expectations both students and staff

• Students’ temperatures must be taken every day before boarding a bus and entering the school. Any child or staff member with a fever of at least 100 degrees should stay home. The district is launching a health app to assist. Staffers must also complete the health app daily.
• Students must cover their faces at all times, both on the bus and while in school. Exceptions include when eating meals or as directed by a teacher when seated. Staff also must cover their faces all day in schools and on buses. The district will provide masks for students who forget to bring them.
• Students must socially distance themselves from others at all times. Buses will carry fewer students. Classroom desks will be configured to allow for 6 feet of physical separation. Hallway floors will be marked with decals to remind students to socially distance. The district will provide all students with a clear, portable, lightweight, three-sided desk guard to set up around them on their desktops. The guards can be washed with soap and water.
• Frequent hand and respiratory hygiene will be practiced. Sinks and soap and water will be available in elementary classrooms. Touchless hand sanitizers were installed in each classroom and in each school lobby. Students can bring up to 8 ounces of hand sanitizer to school. Students do not need to wear plastic gloves.

School arrival and dismissal times will remain the same.

• Burns: 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Dutch Lane: 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• East Street: 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Fork Lane: 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Lee Avenue: 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Old Country Road: 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Woodland: 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Middle School: 7:25 a.m. to 2:20 p.m.
• High School: 7:35 a.m. to 2:25 p.m.

Students can bring non-breakable, refillable water bottles to school. Water fountains were disconnected, but refilling stations were installed at each school.

New, stringent cleaning and disinfecting protocols were implemented in all district buildings. Every classroom, bathroom, cafeteria, and bus will be cleaned and disinfected nightly. High-touch surfaces will be cleaned throughout the day. The district bought 32 electrostatic sprayers and will utilize its Kaivac cleaning machines to disinfect and clean. All cleaning items were certified by the CDC.

Parents can change their children's instruction selection before each quarter of the 2020-21 school year.

Click here to read the district's reopening plan.