As of this publication date, the George L. Cooke Elementary School is expected to re-open its doors to students again beginning Tuesday, Oct. 13. All K-2 students in cohort A will return on Tuesday, Oct. 13 and all K-2 students in cohort B will return on Thursday, Oct. 15. All students will continue to work remotely on Wednesdays. The district is closed on Monday, Oct. 12 in observance of Columbus Day.
The building has been closed to students since Monday, Sept. 28, when the district learned that a staff member tested positive for COVID-19. On Wednesday, Sept. 30, the district announced that 28 individuals at the school had been identified as possible exposures and would be required to self-quarantine for a 14-day period, and that as a result, the building would close for the duration of that time period. On Oct. 6, the district announced that two additional staff members at the George L. Cooke Elementary School had tested positive for COVID-19. The individuals were contacts of the first identified positive case at Cooke and had not been in the building since Friday, Sept. 25. As of this publication date, the school community has met all of the NYSDOH and CDC guidance to reopen the building to students. If there are any unforeseen changes to this plan, the district will notify families using its communication channels.
Upon return, students and staff must continue to wear masks, follow social distancing guidelines, practice frequent handwashing and follow all other health and safety guidelines outlined in the Health and Safety section of Our Path Forward. Students and staff who are exhibiting any symptoms of COVID-19 must stay home. For more information on how to determine whether your child can safely attend school, please visit the NYSDOH’s updated guidance.
“We thank our families for their patience and support over the last couple of weeks, ”Principal Conmeka Lockhart said. “We’re excited to welcome you back and are looking forward to seeing you soon.”