March 13, 2020

Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s) & Community Members:

The District continues to closely monitor the situation surrounding Coronavirus (COVID-19). We continue to work with and receive guidance from Hamilton County Public Health, New York State Department of Health, New York State Department of Education, and the CDC. With the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and community our first priority, Long Lake Central School is promoting social distancing and is putting preventive practices in place. This letter outlines some of the changes you can expect in our daily operations, as well as some aspects of future-planning that are on-going.

It’s important to note, that while the District does not have a confirmed case of COVID-19, in an abundance of caution we have made several decisions to help promote social distancing and preventive practices for our school and the community at large.

Here are the actions we are already taking:

• Refining our contingency plans for the possibility that we will need to close our school in the future
• Postponing/canceling activities and events (See below)
• Encouraging staff and students to stay home when they are sick
• Supporting our students with age-appropriate discussions regarding the current health crisis
• Intensifying cleaning and disinfecting of the building

Cleaning and disinfection practices continue:

• The District continues to take flu season precautions to disinfect and sanitize the school buildings, specifically common touch points, such as desks, tables, chairs, doorknobs, handles, classroom toys, light switches, etc. daily. Our buses have also been a focus of our cleaning and disinfecting process.

Beginning Saturday, March 14, 2020 and continuing until Sunday, April 19, 2020 we will:

• Cancel or postpone field trips
• Cancel or postpone assemblies
• Cancel or postpone events outside of school hours
• Suspend the use of school facilities by outside groups
• Suspend unnecessary guests in the building

Please note the following events have been cancelled:

• March 13: Snowball Semi-Formal Dance @ Johnsburg CSD
• March 16: Elementary Basketball Game vs. Lake Pleasant
• March 17: CTSO Meeting
• March 19-22: Class of 2020 Senior Trip to NYC
• March 30: Grades 5-8 Field Trip to Paul Smith’s College
• March 30: Grade 9 In-House Experience with Hamilton County Public Health
• March 30: Grades 10-12 Field Trip to Career Fair at North Warren Central School
• April 4: CASMA Spring Festival

Please note the following events have been postponed:

• March 16: The Drama Club Production of Twinkle, Twinkle Big Starz: Disclaimer
• March 26: PARP Family Night

Please note this list is not meant to be all-inclusive. If you have any questions about a specific event, please check our website (www.longlakecsd.org) calendar and/or contact the main office at (518) 624-2221.

Families will be notified of any changes that occur post-April break as we continue to monitor the situation over the next four weeks. In regards to athletic practices and events, the District will be following the guidance from the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) and will communicate accordingly.

Closure of schools:

Hamilton County Public Health and/or the New York State Department of Education will notify schools if and when a school must close due to COVID-19 and when a school can reopen. Schools are not expected to make decisions about closing due to COVID-19 on their own, and we will seek specific guidance from the state or local health officials to determine if, when, and for how long to take these steps. We are making plans to provide instruction during a period of closure lasting more than one day. More detailed information is to come.

Again, the decisions outlined in this letter have been taken in an abundance of caution to keep the safety of our students and staff a priority.

Our ability to effectively limit exposure to COVID-19, as well as thoroughly clean the school building every day, are our two main goals.

Please make sure you are taking care of yourself and your loved ones by continuing to use the following strategies to protect your health and that of our community:

• Wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or upper sleeve when coughing or sneezing
• Avoid contact with people who are sick
• Practice social distancing as much as possible
• Stay home if you are sick and contact your healthcare provider.

COVID-19 symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure to the virus. They include fever, cough, and/or shortness of breath. Please contact your primary doctor for specific guidance if you or your child demonstrate these symptoms.

We truly appreciate your understanding, patience, and partnership as we make decisions on what is best for our students, families, and community.

Sincerely,

Ms. Noelle J. Short

Superintendent/Principal

nshort@longlakecsd.org

(518) 624-2221