Dear Monticello CSD Community Member,
I hope this message finds you well and keeping warm.
This update is to help you understand the public health agency guidance we are following presently, regarding COVID-19 quarantines, isolation, and contact tracing.
The most current guidance we are using are Sullivan County Public Health Services’ (SCPHS) “decision tree,” and the New York State Department of Health’s (NYSDOH) letter from January 10, 2022.
We are using the SCPHS “decision tree” (of January 12, 2022) when dealing with COVID-19 positive cases and close contacts.
We have also been informed that SCPHS will no longer be contact tracing COVID-19 cases. For an individual to receive an order of quarantine or isolation, they must apply for one through an online portal. This can be found at https://www.sullivanny.us/Departments/Publichealth/Coronavirus/Attestation.
Please note that this order of quarantine (for close contacts) or isolation (for COVID-19 positive cases) is required for remote work or paid COVID-19 leave (for staff members), or access to live-stream instruction (for students).
NYSDOH has also informed school districts that it will be issuing “revised Isolation and Quarantine guidance…shortly.” Once this document has been published, we will review and implement it.
Like many of you, we are trying to keep up with the dynamic and shifting updates from public health agencies on COVID-19 positive cases and close contacts, while dealing with significant community spread of COVID-19. Grappling with these ongoing updates and record surges in positive cases is occupying much of our time, and we appreciate your patience as we work through them and our efforts to keep schools open for in-person instruction.
If you or your child are sick, please stay home and seek COVID-19 testing. Test kits are available in our schools upon request for symptomatic students and staff.
Should you have questions regarding these, please contact your school’s administration or nurse.
Please stay well and warm.
With Monti Pride,
Matthew T. Evans, Ed. D.
Superintendent of Schools