Malverne High School temporarily shut down

One staff member tested positive for Covid-19

Posted

Updated on Friday, Sept. 18, at 5 p.m.

Schools Superintendent Dr. Lorna Lewis announced on Monday in a letter to parents that the district had to close Malverne High School for the day. The  high school stuck to a virtual schedule from Monday through Friday as one staff member tested positive for Covid-19.

Lewis said the district saw a high number of “red flag responses” to a Covid-19 questionnaire given to staff and students, meaning that a number of them had been in contact with one or more people who tested positive for the coronavirus.

"We did not have high school classes today as many of the staff members were travelling home, having arrived at school to begin their day," Lewis said. "If additional days are needed for closure at the high school, they will be fully virtual, with live period-by-period classes, following your child’s schedule."

Malverne High kicked off its 2020-21 school year on Sept. 10, and it was operating under a hybrid schedule, in which students attend class in-person every other day. Other schools in the district have remained open. Lewis said in another letter to parents on Friday that the high school would return to  face-to-face learning starting next week.