COVID-19 School Information

Updates from the Superintendent

• February 27, 2022

  Dear Carmel Community, 

  Today, Governor Hochul has announced that the statewide indoor mask mandate for New York State schools has been lifted, effective Wednesday, March 2, 2022, for all schools in a low-transmission zone. 

  As of Wednesday, March 2, mask-wearing will be optional for all students, staff and visitors of Carmel Central School District while on school grounds or on school transportation. Additionally, we anticipate that we will be receiving official guidance from the NYS Education Department in the next few days.

  We recognize that all members of our district community have differing opinions on masks and levels of comfort with mask-wearing, and we support your choice in making the best decision for your child and yourself. As a district, we commit to respecting the rights of all students, staff, and visitors, whether they choose to wear a mask or not. 

  While the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is not over, this change is one step closer to returning our learning environments to a more familiar normal for our students and staff. However, we all play a role in keeping our schools safe, healthy and open. Your continued partnership and commitment to not sending your child to school while ill is appreciated and vital to keeping our community safe. 

  If your child is experiencing any symptoms or tests positive for COVID-19 or other illnesses, we remind you to please not send them to our school buildings.  

  As a reminder, the district is providing at-home test kits for district students who need them. Tests can be picked up from your child’s individual school building during school hours. Please contact your child’s individual school building if you need alternate arrangements. In order to receive a test kit, the student must attend one of the five schools in our district. If you previously received a test kit from the district for your student, you may obtain another kit at this time. 

  We will continue to keep you updated with additional information as needed. Please stay safe and be well.

  Sincerely, 

  Mary-Margaret Zehr 
  Superintendent of Schools 

  Re-Opening Our Schools

• February 26, 2022

  Dear Carmel Community,

   

  This afternoon, I sent a letter to our elected officials as a response to yesterday's release of metric guidelines for masks wearing by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Based on those metrics and Putnam County being a low transmission area, I urged Governor Hochul to rescind the New York State mask mandate for schools as soon as possible. See a copy of my letter to the Governor and our other elected officials.

   

  I would urge parents who wish to make their voices heard to send their own letters to our elected officials. The Westchester Putnam School Boards Association provides an easy option to electronically send a letter on their website.

   

  If the Governor lifts the mask mandate for schools, we will notify parents of that decision as soon as we know.

   

  Sincerely,

  Mary-Margaret Zehr
  Superintendent of Schools

  Re-Opening Our Schools

• February 11, 2022

  Dear Carmel Community,

  As you likely know, Governor Hochul ended the indoor mask mandate for the majority of New York State businesses and workplaces this week but has left the mask requirement for schools and health care facilities in place for the time being.

  The Governor has indicated that she plans to revisit the school mask mandate in early March after many New York schools come back from mid-winter break and will decide to either extend or lift the mandate.

  We recognize that the ongoing conversation regarding masks in schools has not been easy and has not come without differing opinions and levels of comfort from all sides. The last two years have been uncharted territory for all of us and we have relied on healthcare experts, and federal, state and local leaders for ongoing guidance in this area. We hear you on all sides of the conversation and ask for your continued patience over the next few weeks.

  We will share updates with you as soon as we are provided with additional guidance.

  At-Home COVID-19 Test Kits
  To help ensure our school buildings remain safe after our mid-winter break in February, the District is providing at-home test kits for district students who need them. In order to receive a test kit, the student must attend one of the five schools in our district. If you previously received a test kit from the district for your student, you may obtain another kit at this time. Tests can be picked up from your child’s individual school during school hours.

  As a reminder, if your child(ren) is experiencing any symptoms or tests positive, please notify your child’s building principal and do not send your child to school.

  As always, our priority is to keep our buildings, students, and staff safe and healthy, while we try to return our learning environments to a more familiar normal that so many of us have missed these last two years. With your help, we are hopeful that we can get there sooner rather than later.

  Thank you for your continued cooperation and understanding. Please stay safe and be well.

  Sincerely, 

  Mary-Margaret Zehr
  Superintendent of Schools

  Re-Opening Our Schools

• January 25, 2022

  Dear Carmel Community,

  Late in the evening yesterday, we learned that a Supreme Court judge in New York ruled that masks may no longer be required in school settings.

  After receiving word of the Supreme Court ruling, we received the following message from the NYS (New York State) Education Department:

  The State Education Department understands that Nassau County Supreme Court has ruled that the Department of Health exceeded its authority in enacting the mask regulation, 10 NYCRR 2.60, in Demetriou et al. v. New York State Dep’t of Health et al. This regulation is the subject of conflicting decisions, as far as Albany County Supreme Court recently upheld the regulation in Massapequa UFSD et al. v. Hochul, et al.

  It is SED’s understanding that the Department of Health will appeal the Nassau County Supreme Court decision, which will result in an automatic stay that will unambiguously restore the mask rule until such time as an appellate court issues a further ruling. Therefore, schools must continue to follow the mask rule.

  We have just learned that late last night (10:45 p.m.) a notice of appeal was filed. The Notice of Appeal triggers an automatic stay of the Nassau County Supreme Court’s ruling that the emergency regulation requiring masks to be worn in public schools was unconstitutional. The automatic stay reinstates the Commissioner of Health’s emergency regulation effective immediately.

  Based on the information regarding the appeal, the directive from NYSED (New York State Education Department), and consultation with legal counsel, masks must continue to be worn in school and on the school bus.

  I will continue to provide you with updates as they become available. Thank you for your continued support.

  Sincerely,

  Mary-Margaret Zehr
  Superintendent of Schools 

  Re-Opening Our Schools

• January 18, 2022

  Dear Carmel Community,

  On January 13, 2022, the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) aligned its isolation and quarantine guidance, with a few exceptions and clarifications, with the recent Centers for Disease Control (CDC) updated guidance.

  This updated guidance supersedes the essential worker portion of the December 24, 2021, NYSDOH Shortened Isolation Guidance, and the January 4, 2022, NYSDOH Interim Updated Isolation & Quarantine Guidance.

  Updated Guidance & Resources 

  • NYS Department of Health Isolation & Quarantine Guidance: January 13, 2022 
  • Isolation & Quarantine Tables 
  • Contact Tracing & Case Investigation FAQ 
  • FAQs for Schools 
  • FAQs for Employers  

  Updated Guidance Summary 
  Please refer to the NYS Department of Health Isolation & Quarantine Guidance from January 13, 2022, for the update in its entirety. A summary of the updates as it relates to our schools is included here: 

  Quarantine Exception for Schools (K-12) 

  • Any exposed student or staff member who is not vaccinated must quarantine for five (5) days. Individuals may return to school after their quarantine period if they are symptom-free for 24 hours without the use of medication and do not have a runny nose/productive cough.  
  • All fully vaccinated students and staff can remain in school regardless of exposure.  
  • Exposed students, teachers, and staff who are vaccinated but did not receive a CDC-recommended booster when eligible must quarantine for five (5) days but can attend or work at school during the quarantine period where masking, distancing, etc., is monitored and enforced. However, these individuals must continue to quarantine as otherwise required outside of academic instruction periods in school. Extra-curricular, after-school, or community activities are not permitted during quarantine. 

  What To Do if Not Subject to Quarantine 

  • Wear a well-fitting mask around others for 10 days from the date of last close contact with someone who is positive for COVID-19. The date of last close contact is considered day 0.  
  • Get tested at least five (5) days after the date of last close contact with someone who is positive for COVID-19. 
  • Anyone who was positive for COVID-19 within the last 90 days, and has since recovered and remained symptom-free, does not need to get tested after close contact with someone who is positive for COVID-19. 

  Changes to Contact Tracing 

  • The Putnam County Department of Health is no longer requiring a report of close contacts from individuals who test positive for COVID-19, and they are no longer recording this data. You should no longer expect to hear from the Department of Health regarding quarantine.  
  • Effectively immediately, our District will begin notifying families of any exposure in school by class within each building, a practice that most schools are also currently shifting to. This notification will come directly from the school your child attends.  
  • If your child was in a classroom where a notification has been sent regarding exposure and you are concerned with the status of his/her exposure to an individual who is positive for COVID-19, you can reach out to the building principal. We are ready to assist you with offers of testing options and instructions on what to do when quarantining.  

  As we have mentioned previously, guidance changes and clarifications are released frequently, and the information is accurate at the time it has been shared. We will continue to keep you updated to the best of our ability as new information is provided to our district. Thank you for your continued understanding and cooperation. 

  Sincerely, 

  Mary-Margaret Zehr 
  Superintendent of Schools 

  Joseph Simoni 
  Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Personnel Services & Technology 

  Re-Opening Our Schools

• January 7, 2022

  Dear Carmel Community,

  As a follow-up to the message we sent yesterday, interim updated isolation and quarantine guidance from the Putnam County Department of Health regarding isolation is included here:

  Updated Guidance from the Department of Health
  On January 4, 2022, New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) released interim updated isolation and quarantine guidance. This guidance aligns with some of the recent CDC recommendations. While it is anticipated that there may be further updates from NYSDOH and/or the CDC in the near future, the following changes are being adapted by the Putnam County Department of Health in the interim.

  These changes are immediately in effect for all Putnam County residents, regardless of age:

  Isolation for those who test positive for COVID-19:   

  • Isolate for five (5)days, where day 0 is the day of symptom onset or (if asymptomatic) the day of collection of the first positive specimen. Can return to school/work on day 6.  
  • If asymptomatic at the end of five (5) days, or if you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications and other symptoms are resolving, isolation ends, and the individual should wear a well-fitting mask while around others for an additional five (5) Can return to school/work on day 6. 
  • Individuals who are moderately-severely immunocompromised should continue to follow the standard (i.e., not shortened) 10-day isolation period, and can return to school/work on day 11.  
  • Individuals who are unable to wear a well-fitting mask for five (5)days after a 5-day isolation should also follow the standard (i.e., not shortened) 10-day isolation period, and can return to school/work on day 11.  
  • See “COVID Positive Condition & Isolation Period” 

  Quarantine for those who were exposed to a confirmed positive individual:   

  • Quarantine for a period of five (5)days for any age individual if symptoms have subsided, and the individual can wear a well-fitting mask.   
  • See "Vaccination Status & Quarantine Requirement” below

  If you are currently quarantined and have surpassed day 5, and, if symptomatic, your symptoms have subsided (see below), you may return to work/school.

  Vaccination Status & Quarantine Requirement 

  • Any age individual who is quarantined due to exposure and, if symptomatic, whose symptoms have subsided (24 hours fever-free without the use of medication, no runny nose, no productive cough): Quarantine for five (5) days and wear a well-fitting mask while around others for an additional five (5) 

  COVID Positive Condition & Isolation Period 

  • Symptomatic: Isolate for five (5)days, where day 0 is the day of symptom onset. Can return to school/work on day 6 
  • Asymptomatic Positive: Where day 0 is the day of collection of the first positive specimen. Can return to school/work on day 6.
  • Asymptomatic at the end of 5 days or if you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications and other symptoms are resolving: The individual should wear a well-fitting mask while around others for an additional five (5) Can return to school/work on day 6. 
  • Individuals who are moderately-severely immunocompromised: 10-day isolation period. Can return to school/work on day 11. 
  • Individuals who are unable to wear a well-fitting mask for five (5)days after a 5-day isolation as determined by a 504 Plan or IEP: 10-day isolation period. Can return to school/work on day 11. 

  As you are aware, guidance changes frequently, and the information is accurate at the time it has been shared. We will continue to keep you updated to the best of our ability. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation during this time.

  Sincerely,

  Mary-Margaret Zehr
  Superintendent of Schools

  Joseph Simoni
  Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Personnel Services & Technology 

  Re-Opening Our Schools

• January 6, 2022

  Dear Carmel Community,

  I want to thank you for your cooperation and understanding this week as the weather provided us with another challenge to overcome. Our priority is always the safety of our students and staff, and we remain vigilant in our monitoring of the COVID-19 status in our community as well as the weather forecasts. We appreciate your ongoing flexibility and patience.

  We want to ensure that parents/guardians, students and staff are aware of the following updates:

  At-Home COVID-19 Test Kit Pick-up
  In order to accommodate additional district families who were unable to pick up their student’s test kit this week, we have updated our schedule to include additional pick-up times.

  The district will provide one test kit per district student. Students must attend one of the five schools in our district in order to receive a test kit. Parents/guardians must be the ones to pick up for their child(ren) and will be asked to provide the name(s) of their district student(s) to receive the test kit(s).

  At-home COVID-19 test kits will be available for pick up at the Carmel Central School District Administrative Office (81 South Street, Patterson, NY, 12563) on: 
  

  • Monday, January 10: 8-10 a.m. and 6-8 p.m. 

  When picking up the at-home test kits, parents/guardians are asked to enter the building using the lower-level double doors that face South Street. As a reminder, masks must be worn by anyone entering a school district building. Anyone entering the building for pick-up must not be experiencing any symptoms or illness.

  If your child(ren) is experiencing any symptoms or tests positive, please notify your child’s building principal and do not send your child to school.

  Updated Guidance from the Department of Health
  We received additional guidance from the Department of Health earlier today and are currently reviewing it. We hope to provide specific updates to our district community tomorrow.

  Putnam County COVID-19 Testing
  The Putnam County Department of Health is offering COVID-19 testing and vaccinations at several locations throughout the country for residents. Additional information is available on the PCDOH website.  

  Putnam County has special testing hours for students and staff that are symptomatic and/or have been exposed: 

  • COVID-19 Testing Centers: Open to Residents of Putnam County Only
    • School Children & School Staff Only
      • Monday – Friday, 6-9 a.m., Paladin Center, 39 Seminary Hill Rd., Carmel
      • Monday – Friday, 6-9 a.m., Philipstown Recreation Center, 107 Glenclyffe, Garrison
    • All Ages
      • Daily, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Paladin Center
      • Daily, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Philipstown Recreation Center
  • PCDOH COVID-19 Testing & Vaccination Schedule: January 2022

  Keeping our buildings, students and staff safe and healthy is a priority, and we will continue to keep you updated to the best of our ability. 

  Sincerely, 

  Mary-Margaret Zehr
  Superintendent of Schools

  Re-Opening Our Schools

• January 3, 2022

  Dear Carmel Families,

  To slow the transmission of COVID-19 into schools, the New York State Department of Health has provided schools districts with at-home rapid antigen test kits to distribute to its families and staff.

  Carmel Central School District has received a shipment of test kits which are being made available to each district family. The number of test kits given to each family will depend on the number of students in the family who attend one of the five schools in our district.

  At-home COVID-19 test kits will be available for families to pick up at the Carmel Central School District Administrative Office (81 South Street, Patterson, NY, 12563) on Tuesday, January 4, 8-10 a.m., and Wednesday, January 5, 8-10 a.m.

  When picking up the at-home test kits, families are asked to enter the building using the lower-level double doors that face South Street. Masks are required for anyone entering the building. Families will be asked to provide the name(s) of district students in order to receive their test kit(s).

  It is recommended that the test kits are used when your child(ren) are experiencing symptoms. Parents can opt to test their child prior to entering school as a means of screening. Please note that this is completely optional, and the district does not require the test prior to school entry. 

  • iHealth COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test Instructions (English) 
  • iHealth COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test Instructions (Spanish) 

  If your child(ren) is experiencing any symptoms or tests positive, please notify your child’s building principal and do not send your child to school.

  Putnam County Test to Stay Update
  Due to the increase of cases in the county, Putnam County Department of Health is pivoting to testing any symptomatic student or school staff rather than initiating test to stay at this point.

  Putnam County COVID-19 Testing
  The Putnam County Department of Health is offering COVID-19 testing and vaccinations at several locations throughout the country for residents. Additional information is available on the PCDOH website.  

  Putnam County has special testing hours for students and staff that are symptomatic and/or have been exposed: 

  • COVID-19 Testing Centers: Open to Residents of Putnam County Only
    • School Children & School Staff Only
      • Monday – Friday, 6-9 a.m., Paladin Center, 39 Seminary Hill Rd., Carmel
      • Monday – Friday, 6-9 a.m., Philipstown Recreation Center, 107 Glenclyffe Dr., Garrison
    • All Ages 
      • Daily, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Paladin Center 
      • Daily, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Philipstown Recreation Center 

  • PCDOH COVID-19 Testing & Vaccination Schedule: January 2022 

  We continue to monitor the ever-changing COVID-19 status in the local community and in our district, and any possible impacts it may have on our student and staff attendance over the coming days. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding and remind our entire community to be prepared for any changes that may result.

  Keeping our buildings, students and staff safe and healthy is a priority, and we will continue to update you as soon as possible if anything changes.

  Sincerely,

  Mary-Margaret Zehr
  Superintendent of Schools

  Re-Opening Our Schools

• January 2, 2022

  Dear Carmel Parents/Guardians & Students,

  Over the past few days, our administrative team has continued to monitor the current COVID-19 status in the local community and any effects that it may have in our student attendance and staffing this week. The safety of our students and staff is a top priority and remains central in all our planning and decision making. We recognize the importance of in-person education for our students' academic and mental wellbeing, and we are all committed to keeping schools open. At this time, our plan to welcome our students and staff back in person to our buildings on Monday, January 3, still remains.

  As we prepare to return to our schools tomorrow, we want to ensure that parents/guardians, students and staff are aware of the following updates:

  Health & Safety Reminders
  As a reminder, helping ensure our district stays healthy and safe starts at home. We need your help as our first line of defense in mitigating the effects of COVID-19 on our district. We ask that you please do not send your child(ren) to school if they are showing any symptoms of COVID-19 or other illnesses.

  Test To Stay
  The Putnam County Department of Health continues to work to create a Test to Stay initiative plan that has begun being used in other local counties. At this time, a formalized plan has not been shared by the Department of Health. As soon as we have the most up-to-date information, we will send it to all staff and parents.

  COVID-19 Home Tests from NY State
  We received notification that the home test kits will arrive in the District on Monday, January 3. We are still working to determine how to distribute the tests and will update you as we have more information to share.

  This week we will continue to monitor the absence rate of staff and students. Elementary students who are COVID positive or quarantined will have an option to be remote beginning on Tuesday. Building principals and elementary teachers will provide additional details on Monday.

  Thank you for your cooperation as we work to keep our schools safe and open.

  Sincerely,

  Mary-Margaret Zehr
  Superintendent of Schools

  Re-Opening Our Schools

• December 30, 2021

  Dear Carmel Community, 

  I hope that the last week of holiday break has been enjoyable for you and that you remain in good health. 

  Our administrative team has been closely monitoring the current COVID-19 status in the local community and any effects that it may have in our student attendance and staffing next week. At this time, our plan to welcome our students and staff back in person to our buildings on Monday, January 3, still remains. 

  As always, this current COVID-19 situation is ever-changing and should our plans need to change over the next few days, we will alert you as soon as possible.

  As we prepare to return to our schools on Monday, parents/guardians, students and staff should be aware of the following updates that may have an impact on our plans:

  CCSD Transportation
  Our Transportation Department has been closely monitoring staffing levels and creating alternate plans for transporting students should staffing levels become a concern in the next few days. Alternate plans may include requests for parents/guardians to transport some students or an option for centralized pick-up and drop-off locations. If any staffing shortages arise that may have a deeper impact than we have planned for, we will send additional details as soon as possible.

  Test To Stay & Return from Isolation Protocols
  Under current New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) school guidance, unvaccinated individuals who are close contacts of people who test positive for COVID-19 should be excluded from school and quarantined for a period of 10 days. In addition, individuals who test positive for COVID-19 must isolate for 10 days until symptoms are resolved without the use of pain-relieving drugs, and during high transmission, obtain a release from a doctor or the Department of Health.

  The Putnam County Department of Health has been working to create a Test to Stay initiative plan that has begun being used in other local counties. At this time, a formalized plan has not been shared by the Department of Health. As soon as we have the most up-to date information, we will send it to all staff and parents.

  New Quarantine Rules for Staff
  On December 24, 2021, NYSDOH released a memo advising that school personnel who are vaccinated and test positive for COVID-19 can now return to work from isolation provided that the following are in place:  

  • The individual is fully vaccinated (g., completed 1 dose of Janssen or 2 doses of an mRNA vaccine at least 2 weeks before the day they become symptomatic or, if asymptomatic, the day of collection of the first positive specimen); and
  • The individual is asymptomatic, or, if they have mild symptoms when they return to work, they must:  
    • Not have a fever for at least 72 hours without fever-reducing medication 
    • Have resolution of symptoms or, if still with residual symptoms, then all are improving
    • Not have rhinorrhea (runny nose)  
    • Have no more than minimal, non-productive cough (i.e., not disruptive to work and does not stop the person from wearing their mask continuously, not coughing up phlegm)
    • Be able to wear a well-fitting face mask consistently and correctly while at work. The mask should fit with no air gaps around the edges. 
      

  The NYSDOH may have changes to this guidance in the coming days. As soon as we have the most up-to date information, we will send it to all staff.

  COVID-19 Home Tests from NY State
  As you may have heard in the news, Governor Hochul has announced plans to provide school districts with free take-home COVID-19 test kits for families. Currently, we have no additional information on the expected arrival dates or distributions of these tests. We will be sure to update you as we receive more information from New York State.

  Health & Safety Reminders
  As a reminder, helping ensure our district stays healthy and safe starts at home. We need your help as our first line of defense in mitigating the effects of COVID-19 on our district. We ask that you please do not send your child(ren) to school if they are showing any symptoms of COVID-19 or other illnesses. If your child(ren) is experiencing any symptoms, please consult your medical professional and get tested as soon as possible.

  Please continue to stay safe and well during the remainder of the holiday break and we look forward to seeing you next week.

  Sincerely,

  Mary-Margaret Zehr
  Superintendent of Schools

  Re-Opening Our Schools