Below is a message from Superintendent Bernadette Burns about a West Islip employee testing positive for Coronavirus (COVID-19). Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers as they recover.
The district has been notified that a staff member at Bayview Elementary School has tested positive for the coronavirus(COVID-19). Guidance provided by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) and the New York State Education Department (NYSED) requires a school to close for 24 hours while the local department of health investigates. However, in an abundance of caution, all schools in the district will be closed tomorrow, Thursday, March 12. All activities throughout the district are cancelled for Thursday. The need for additional closures beyond Thursday will be determined after consultation with the Suffolk County Department of Health Services (DHS).
During this closure, all school buildings will be disinfected in accordance with guidelines from the NYSDOH. We have brought in a professional cleaning service for Bayview Elementary School and will use our custodial staff to deep clean all other buildings. We anticipate that this will be done in time for a regular opening of school on Friday, March 13. Please continue to exercise the safe practices recommended by the CDC:
- Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before eating.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
We will continue to keep you updated about further developments and direction from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the New York State Department of Health.
