Dear Chatham Families,
Chatham Central School District will be sending home state-provided at-home COVID-19 test kits with all our students during the opening week of school. Families may use these tests at their discretion. If you would like to opt out of having your child receive one of these free test kits, please notify your child’s school no later than September 6. Additional test kits will be available upon request while supplies last.
COVID-19 GUIDANCE RELEASED FOR 2022-23
On August 22, the New York State Education Department and the New York State Department of Health issued a joint statement regarding COVID-19 guidance for the upcoming 2022-23 school year. Here are links to the letter as well as to a frequently asked questions document regarding the guidance.
Some Highlights:
Universal masking is not required at this time. Individuals are permitted to wear a mask if they choose to. Local health departments have the authority to implement masking requirements.
Schools are no longer required to conduct contact tracing.
Physical distancing is no longer required.
Students and staff who test positive for COVID-19 should isolate for 5 days at home (with day 0 being day of symptom onset or day tested). They may resume attending school on day 6 if they are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever reducing medicine) and their symptoms are improving and they wear a high-quality mask through day 10. CDC isolation guidance indicates that individuals may end mask use before day 10 if they receive two sequential negative tests 48 hours apart.
Students and staff exposed to a positive case will not have to quarantine. Those who are exposed should follow CDC recommendations to wear a well-fitting mask for 10 days after the exposure and get tested.
Schools are no longer required to report daily positive cases to the Department of Health (DOH). Schools which provide point-of-care testing on site, which Chatham will continue to do with parental consent, are required to report those positive test results to the DOH as they occur.
Anyone who is sick should stay home from school. Testing is recommended for individuals with symptoms of COVID-19 as soon as possible.
Schools are no longer required to conduct screening testing of unvaccinated staff.
Our District continues to follow the protocols set forth by local and state health departments. If we receive any changes to the current guidance, we will keep you updated. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s building principal.
Sincerely,
Sal DeAngelo
Superintendent of Schools