More than 40 confirmed cases of the coronavirus have been reported in nine school districts on the North Shore of Nassau County, according to figures provided by the state.
Public school districts that were analyzed included the Port Washington school district, Roslyn school district, Sewanhaka Central High School District, Mineola school district, East Williston school district, Floral Park-Bellerose school district, Manhasset school district, New Hyde Park-Garden City Park school district, Herricks school district and the Great Neck school district.
Floral Park Memorial High School had the most confirmed cases of the virus in one school in these districts with five students as of Wednesday. All of those students were reportedly off-site, according to the state’s COVID-19 report card, which specifies whether a student, teacher or staff member has tested positive for the virus and if the person was on school grounds or not.
The district with the most total cases as of Wednesday was the Sewanhaka Central High School District with 11 confirmed cases, though nine students were off-site, according to state data. One on-site student and teacher or staff member also contracted the virus.
“The Department of Health has also advised the district that our practice of maintaining six feet of social distance and requiring the wearing of masks is a best practice against the spread of the virus in our buildings,” Sewanhaka Superintendent James Grossane said in a letter to the community at the end of September. “We are extremely proud of our students throughout the district, and they have done an outstanding job with social distancing, hygiene, mask wearing, and acting in a responsible manner.”
Both the Mineola and Port Washington school districts had a total of eight cases, but Port Washington’s cases were all on-site. A total of six students and two teachers or staff members had tested positive for the virus in Port Washington compared with five on-site students, two off-site students, and one off-site teacher or staff member in Mineola.
In Port Washington, Carrie Palmer Weber Middle School had positive cases of one teacher or staff member and one student, John J. Daly Elementary School had two on-site students, Manorhaven Elementary had one teacher or staff member and one student, and Schreiber High School had two students.
Port Washington’s school superintendent, Michael Hynes, released a statement on Sunday notifying parents that Schreiber High School would be closed on Tuesday.
“In accordance with our Re-Entry Plan, the [Nassau County Department of Health] was contacted immediately to conduct a contact tracing investigation,” Hynes said. “Out of an abundance of caution, Schreiber High school will remain closed on Tuesday, October 13 so the [Department of Health] can continue its contact tracing investigation.”
Both Great Neck and Roslyn’s school districts had six confirmed cases as of Wednesday, each with five students and one teacher or staff member that tested positive for the coronavirus.
Roslyn School Superintendent Allison Brown informed the public that if a positive case results in the shutdown of a school building, parents will receive a voicemail. If the case is off-site or does not impact the functioning of a building, parents will receive a written message.
“Please keep in mind that our school buildings are controlled environments which provide students with safe conditions, and the adherence of our protocols is allowing us to reopen quickly,” Brown said in a statement. “Let’s work together to make sure our students are as safe outside of school as they are inside.”
Great Neck Superintendent Teresa Prendergast also implored the public to adhere to the safety protocols and guidelines laid out by the state’s Department of Health after a South High staff member had tested positive for the virus.
“The health and safety of our students and staff is our number one priority,” Prendergast said. “We will continue to closely monitor this situation and provide updates as needed.”
The remaining cases come from Herricks High School, with one on-site teacher or staff member, Floral Park-Bellerose School with one off-site student, and Willets Road School with one on-site student. The Manhasset and New Hyde Park-Garden City Park school districts had no reported cases as of Wednesday, according to state data.
