More Covid cases reported in Elmont, Sewanhaka schools

More students and faculty members in the Elmont Union Free School District and the Sewanhaka Central High School District have tested positive for Covid-19 as they enter their second month of in-person and virtual learning.

According to data from the New York state Department of Health, the Elmont district reported two positive cases among students and staff as of last Friday, while the Sewanhaka district had a total of 10.

The Franklin Square School District, meanwhile, had not reported any cases.

On Saturday, however, Elmont Superintendent Ken Rosner announced that two more students at the Clara H. Carlson School had tested positive, bringing the district’s case total to four, and Sewanhaka Superintendent James Grossane informed parents on Sunday that New Hyde Park Memorial High School would be closed on Monday and Tuesday, as the district awaited an administrator’s test results. The administrator, Grossane said, had displayed Covid-like symptoms and was advised to quarantine.

The building was scheduled to be deep-cleaned on Monday, Grossane wrote in his letter. Once the status of the administrator was confirmed, he said, district officials would decide when to allow New Hyde Park students back into the building — and if the test came back positive, Grossane added, the Nassau County Department of Health would conduct contact tracing.

“As always,” Grossane said, “the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff are our top priority.”

Sewanhaka officials had previously announced that, of the 10 cases reported, two were students in H. Frank Carey High School’s hybrid learning program, and two others were Sewanhaka High School students taking part in the district’s remote learning program. It did not need to take any action in the Sewanhaka cases, Grossane wrote in a letter to parents on Sept. 25, in which he also confirmed one positive test at Carey. The announcement of a second case at Carey came four days later.

Both Carey students had been in quarantine, Grossane said, and would not be able to return to school until it was completed. There was no exposure to other students, he added, and the building was cleaned and sanitized.

In the Elmont elementary school district, meanwhile, district officials announced on Saturday that two students at Clara H. Carlson Elementary had tested positive, after previously reporting that an adult in their household had the virus. The building and classrooms the two children were in “have been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected,” Rosner said, adding, “Out of an abundance of caution, I elected to quarantine both classes attended by the children, together with their teachers.”

He also said on Monday that a staff member at the Gotham Avenue School was considered a “close contact” of a family member who tested positive, and Rosner quarantined the teachers and students “associated with this staff member.”

Last week, Rosner reported that an employee at Clara H. Carlson School and a student at the Covert Avenue School had tested positive. The student, he said, had another family member — who was also considered a “close contact” — in the school, and, Rosner added, “Out of an abundance of caution, we have decided to quarantine the teachers and those classes as well.”

Rosner said he would continue to work with the county Health Department “and take all necessary precautions to ensure the health and safety of our school community.”

“I am confident our approach to addressing the safety of students and staff during this pandemic will continue to serve our community well,” he said.