Covid-19 updates from Hornell City School District

On Wednesday, the governor made the announcement that masking for most public spaces and businesses would be optional and allow businesses to create and enforce their own requirements if they choose to do so regarding the wearing of masks.  For schools, a decision has not yet been made.  Schools across the state, including Hornell, are working together to advocate for local decision-making authority in this area.  It is our belief based on what we heard from the governor on Wednesday, that a decision allowing for this local authority may come during the week of February 28.  For now, masks and all other mitigation strategies remain in place for schools. As we learn more, we will communicate this with you.

The district continues to receive more home tests from NYSDOH.  If you have a need for home tests, please contact the main office of your child’s school and they will be available for pick up or to be sent home with your child if you desire. 

We are still impacted by positive cases of covid within the school.  Thankfully, the numbers we are reporting are about half of what they were the prior week and are significantly lower than what they were in January.  For those students that are deemed to be a contact, the school is continuing to offer the “Test to Stay” program that allows children to continue to attend school through what otherwise would have been a quarantine from school as a contact provided they test daily at school before entering.  If your child is in this situation, your school nurse can provide you with the details as to how your child can continue to attend as a positive contact.  

Below you will see the weekly count for student and employee positives within our district.    

This week, we learned of 14 positive cases of covid in our schools.  Here is the breakdown:
 

	North Hornell Elementary	Hornell Intermediate School	Hornell High School	District Wide Employees
Students	3	5	4	NA
Employees	1	1	0	0