Three New Rochelle Schools Switching To Virtual Learning: UPDATE

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Three of New Rochelle's schools will be switching to all virtual learning Thursday.

In an email to the community Wednesday evening, interim Superintendent Dr. Alex Marrero said New Rochelle High School, Daniel Webster Magnet School and Columbus Elementary School will switch to virtual learning effective Thursday because coronavirus-related absences and quarantines have left the schools without adequate staff.

Also, the City School District of New Rochelle has been notified of four students who have tested positive for COVID-19: two at New Rochelle High School, one at George M. Davis Jr. Elementary School, and one at William B. Ward Elementary School.

All of the students and staff who were in direct contact with those students have been contacted and informed that they must quarantine.

On Tuesday, a student was confirmed to have tested positive for the new coronavirus in New Rochelle public schools, and as a result more than 150 students and staff members were required to quarantine.

In a letter to the community Tuesday night, Marrero said the New Rochelle High School student was last in school Nov. 13.

About 130 students and 29 staff members will have to quarantine, he said.

In all, about 500 students who had been attending in-person classes will have to switch to completely virtual classes until Nov. 30.

Marrero said building administration was in the process of contacting students, teachers and staff, who will be expected to quarantine through Friday, Nov. 27.

"They will be able to return to school on Monday, Nov. 30, as long as they do not develop symptoms or test positive for COVID-19," he said.

Patch reached out to a spokesman for a comment about whether the school district was concerned about what would happen after students return from the Thanksgiving holiday but received no reply.

At a news conference Wednesday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said it was his opinion that there would be a "tremendous spike" in the number of coronavirus infections after Thanksgiving.

Marrero said the custodial staff of the high school would concentrate their efforts in the areas that were impacted.

He emphasized that it was vitally important for staff members and parents of students to report all positive cases of the virus to the district.

"This is the only way we can ensure that we are responding appropriately to this ever-changing health crisis," Marrero said.

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