Port Washington Elementary Schoolers Returning To In-Person Model

PORT WASHINGTON, NY — Port Washington's public elementary schools will return to a five-day in-person schedule beginning this month, the district said Friday.

In a letter to the community, Michael Hynes, superintendent of the Port Washington Union Free School District, said all elementary students can return to their respective schools and classrooms beginning Tuesday, Sept. 29. The announcement comes after the district set a goal last month to have elementary kids back in school buildings full-time before Oct. 1.

"I am happy to report that our phase-in has been very successful," Hynes said.

Every child and teacher received a computing device for instruction. Desk shields and filters capable of filtering out the coronavirus from the air have been installed in all instructional spaces, he said. Students and staff successfully transitioned to in-person and remote learning, bus schedules have been refined, and health protocols such as mask-wearing, social-distancing and hand-washing have been followed.

"After checking with all of the elementary principals, I am happy to report that we can begin a safe and orderly return of all elementary students to their respective schools and classrooms beginning Tuesday, September 29th," Hynes said.

Officials will monitor the situation as the date gets closer.

Hynes' announcement comes three days after two students tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, and two schools were forced to close. A student at Paul D. Schreiber High School and another at John J. Daly Elementary School both tested positive. Each were cleaned and reopened Wednesday.

Also on Wednesday, Hynes told the community an additional student at Daly also tested positive for COVID-19. However, that student wasn't physically in school for the last week and the school was not forced to stay closed.

See also:

• Port Washington Schools Pivot On Reopening; Parents 'Furious'