Â鶹ӰÒô

The City School District of Â鶹ӰÒô was notified Tuesday and Wednesday of 12 new confirmed cases of COVID-19. Each of these people is quarantining at home.

Three cases involve New Scotland Elementary School:

• One case is associated with second grade and the individual was last in the building April 11.
• One case is associated with fourth grade and the individual was last in the building April 12.
• In the third case, the individual was last in the building April 11.

Two cases involve Â鶹ӰÒô High School. One case is associated with ninth grade and the individual was last in the building April 11. In the other case, the individual was last in the building April 8.

Another case is associated with a kindergarten classroom at Arbor Hill Elementary School. This individual was last in the building April 5.

Another case is associated with Edmund J. O’Neal School of Excellence. This individual was last in the building April 11.

The eighth case involves a kindergarten classroom at Giffen Memorial Elementary School. This individual was last in the building April 8.

The ninth case involves a second-grade classroom at Pine Hills Elementary School. This individual was last in the building April 12. 

The 10th case is associated with Stephen and Harriet Myers Middle School. This individual was last in the building April 11.

The 11th case is associated with a third-grade classroom at Thomas O’Brien Academy of Science and Technology (TOAST). This individual was last in the building April 7.

The final case is associated with sixth grade at William S. Hackett Middle School. This individual was last in the building April 11. 

Please be reminded that as of March 2, schools no longer are required to quarantine individuals who in the past have been identified as contacts of a person who tests positive. We will now identify anyone within a 6-foot radius of a positive individual as having been exposed and provide notification to that individual or, in the case of a student, their parent or guardian. We will continue to report positive cases.

Health and safety procedures continue at all district buildings and on buses, including cleaning and sanitizing. We also would like to remind everyone of steps you can take to help be safe:

1.      While masks are now optional as of March 2 in all school buildings in New York and, in our school district, on First Student buses that transport students, the state continues to require masks for everyone riding public transportation, which includes CDTA buses that serve our schools. The district will respect the personal decision of all individuals and families regarding wearing masks in those settings where they are now optional. 

2.      Wash hands with soap and water frequently when out of your home. If you cannot use soap and water, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

3.      Don’t touch the eyes, nose or mouth unless your hands are clean.

4.      DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD TO SCHOOL WHEN THEY ARE SICK OR HAVE SYMPTOMS:  

• Signs of COVID-19 are fever, fatigue/tiredness, muscle/body aches or pains, congestion, cough, runny nose, shortness of breath/difficulty breathing, nausea/vomiting or diarrhea, headache, loss of taste or smell, rash, feeling sick or unwell in any way. 
• Please notify your school nurse if you are keeping your child home from school with symptoms; you can find that contact information on your school’s page at .

5.      We continue to encourage everyone 5 and older who is able and eligible to get vaccinated. 

• The Â鶹ӰÒô County Health Department offers frequent opportunities for free COVID-19 vaccinations in a variety of locations. You can learn more at
• Crossgates Mall is one of 10 vaccination sites statewide for children 5-11. You can get an appointment at
• To find additional locations near you, visit vaccines.gov or call 800-232-0233.