By Kevin McLaughlin
After turning to online learning in March of a forgettable 2020, Irvington High School is still going strong with hybrid learning this school year. Other schools in the Hudson Valley, however, have had to go back to full remote learning this year due to COVID-19 outbreaks among students and staff.
With COVID cases surging in our area as well as across the country, this raises the question of whether Irvington will eventually need to return to 100% remote learning?
New guidelines implemented by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo will determine whether or not we need to close the schools. He implemented a system of three different zones: 1) a red zone (positivity rate over 4% for 10 consecutive days), 2) orange zone (positivity rate over 3% for 10 consecutive days), and 3) a yellow zone (positivity rate over 2.5% for 10 consecutive days).
Depending on how Irvington is placed in one of these zones will determine the precautions needed to be implemented by the school, as well as whether or not we can stay open.
A red zone requires Irvington to test at least 30% of in-person students and staff over the one month period following the zone designation in order to stay open. An orange zone requires the same testing in school, however only 20% of students and staff is needed. A yellow zone also requires a 20% test rate, and if those results are lower than the zone’s current 7-day positivity rate, testing at that school is no longer required.
These guidelines are not the only way that we can be required to go 100% remote. Ms. Carol Stein, the assistant superintendent for business, said, “As for internal decisions on when to go 100% remote, the District makes the decision based on the availability of staff to cover classes.”
Meaning if we do not have enough staff to cover classes due to COVID cases, we will go fully online.
Ms. Stein said, “We must prioritize safety of students in the building.”
Ms. Stein also mentioned that the district is staying in close contact with the Westchester Department of Health in order to be vigilant in contact tracing efforts.
