In case you missed it, we have updated our original message from December 18 with an extended deadline for you to respond to the Consent for Student COVID-19 Testing Form. Please complete the form by January 1, 2021.
Read Ms. Guntlow’s updated message below, click here to read our FAQ about NYS mandated micro-cluster COVID testing and fill out the Student COVID Testing Form here by Friday, January 1.
Dear ICC Families,
I would like to thank you all for the continued support that you have shown during the many changes that have occurred this year. As a District, we are committed to doing everything we can in order to offer in-person instruction in a safe and responsible manner.
Earlier this month, we shared information about Governor Cuomo’s Micro Cluster Strategy regarding color coded zones. In order for our schools to remain open, the District is required to test specific percentages of in-person students, teachers, and staff for COVID-19 if the school is in a designated yellow, orange, or red zone. It is important to note that Ichabod Crane is NOT currently in one of these zones. We are however working with the county and Questar III BOCES to be ready if any part of our community is labeled a zone. Governor Cuomo recently announced updated zone designation metrics which are listed below for your reference:
- A Yellow Zone is a geographic area (zip code, census tract, etc.) with a 3% positivity rate over the past 10 days AND the cluster is in the top 10% for hospital admissions per capita over the past week and week-over-week growth in daily admissions.
- An Orange Zone is a geographic area (zip code, census tract, etc.) with a 4% positivity rate over the past 10 days AND 85% hospital capacity OR the Department of Health determines an unacceptably high rate of hospital admissions.
- A Red Zone is a geographic area (zip code, census tract, etc.) that is 21 days from 90% hospital capacity.
To help us prepare for testing should our area be designated in a color zone, please review the School-Based Testing Information and Frequently Asked Questions on our website and consider giving consent for school-based COVID-19 testing by filling out the Consent for Student COVID-19 Testing Form by Friday, January 1, 2021. If you consent, your child may be randomly selected to receive a free COVID-19 Rapid Test. Students who are learning 100% virtually do not need to fill out this form. Please note that these tests are non-invasive and are not the deep-swab procedures performed at medical facilities.
Testing is not mandatory, however, if we do not receive consent from enough families to hit the required percentage, we would likely be forced to shift to full remote instruction for students in grades K-12 for the period of time that our region is classified as a yellow, orange or red zone.
We will keep you informed of any developments and plans for state-mandated COVID-19 testing at our schools. Please remember to continue to follow all health and safety precautions to help stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Sincerely,
Suzanne M. Guntlow
Superintendent of Schools