Positive COVID Tests Delay Southold, Aquebogue In-Person School

SOUTHOLD, NY — In-person learning at the Southold Union Free School District and Aquebogue Elementary School has been delayed after both employees and students tested positive for the coronavirus.

In a letter to the community and district Monday, new Southold Schools Superintendent Dr. Anthony J. Mauro said on Sunday, the district was notified by two employees that they had tested positive for COVID-19.

"Thankfully, they report that they are feeling better already," he said. "We immediately contacted the Suffolk County Department of Health and have provided them with all necessary information and are awaiting their guidance."

At 3:50 p.m. Monday, the Suffolk County Department of Health determined the majority of the district's employees were required to quarantine for 14 days from the date of its meetings, which took place Sept. 2 and 3, Mauro said.

"This will require some changes to the start of the school year for Southold," he said.

The following changes, he said, will enable the district to start the year through distance learning:

• The school conference day scheduled for September 18 will be moved to September 8, so everyone can complete preparations.
• The district will focus on student transition back to school and social/emotional learning.

Sept. 9 will be the first day of school for students.

"Students should practice logging-in to their Google Classrooms and during the day, they will engage in a live Google Meet with their building principal and support staff," he said.

On the second and third day of school, students will engage with their teachers and support staff on an abbreviated basis. The focus will be on transition back to instruction, Mauro said.

On Sept. 14, students will begin distance learning. The distance learning schedule and details will be shared with students in the next couple of days.

On Friday, Sept. 18, students, faculty, and staff will return to school in-person. "Our objective with this approach is to comfortably acclimate our students and teachers to instruction, both in-person and through distance learning," Mauro said. "We look to support all members of the Southold learning community through the reopening in a safe and supportive manner."

Any student who attends an off-campus program will receive communication and direction Tuesday in preparation for class on Wednesday, he said.

"We are all appreciative of the flexibility and support you continue to show as we work through the 2020-2021 school year," Mauro said. "We will keep you informed as we move through these unprecedented times."

Two siblings test positive in Aquebogue Elementary School

Also on Monday, in a letter on the district's website, Riverhead Central School District Interim Superintendent of Schools Christine Tona said over the weekend, the district was notified that two siblings from Aquebogue Elementary School had tested positive for COVID-19.

The Suffolk County Department of Health confirmed the cases and directed the teachers and students in the cohorts of those classes to quarantine for 14 days, effective immediately, Tona said.

Learning will continue remotely, she said.

"We are also in touch with anyone who may have had even incidental contact with these students," she said. "Per our protocols, we have temporarily closed off all areas of the building that the students used while in school so that we can thoroughly clean and disinfect the spaces. We are also in contact with the Suffolk County Department of Health and will take the steps necessary to protect the health of our students and staff."

The symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to the regular seasonal influenza and include fever,
coughing, and shortness of breath, Tona said. If a child is exhibiting any of those symptoms, parents are asked to contact the child’s medical provider to report them.

"The health and safety of our students, their families, and our staff is the highest priority," Tona said. "We are closely monitoring this situation and will provide you with updates as we learn more."

Recently, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he considered colleges the "canary in the coal mine" after a COVID-19 outbreak at the State University of New York at Oneonta — and said he was concerned that similar outbreaks could take place in grades K through 12.