Plainview-Old Bethpage Schools On Remote Learning

PLAINVIEW, NY — The Plainview-Old Bethpage School District is still working remotely after six students tested positive for COVID-19 prior to holiday recess, according to the district’s Facebook page.

School district officials confirmed the six cases in a letter from Schools Superintendent Mary O’Meara to the schools community which was posted on the district’s website Dec. 18. The district moved to remote learning just before holiday recess on Dec. 22 and 23, and continued on Jan. 4 and 5, the first two days the students and staff members were due back. The district saw three of the positive cases among students in John F. Kennedy High School, and one case in each of Howard B. Mattlin Middle School, Pasadena Elementary School, and Stratford Road Elementary School, according to O'Meara's letter.

It is not clear when the school district is returning to its previous schedule.

A class and two staff members in Stratford Elementary School needed to be quarantined, O’Meara’s letter stated. The last date of attendance for all three high school students and one student at Mattlin Middle School was Dec. 9, leading contact tracers to believe that there was no exposure, the letter stated. The student enrolled in Pasadena Elementary who tested positive attends remotely, so there was no exposure to other students as well, according to the letter.

Ninety-four positive cases have been reported since the start of the school year, according to the state’s COVID-19 Report Card. The high school has seen the highest amount of cases with 23 positive cases, including 20 students and three staff members. Mattlin Middle School saw 16 cases, including eight students and eight staff members. As did Plainview-Old Bethpage Middle School, where nine students and seven staff members have tested positive.

Old Bethpage School had 14 positive cases, including nine students and five staff members. Judy Jacobs Elementary had nine positive cases, including six students and three staff members. Pasadena Elementary Schools had five positive cases, including two students and three staff members. Stratford Elementary School has reported 11 cases, including six students and five staff members.

The school's report card was last updated on Dec. 23.