School Reopening Plan

As we start a new school year, we have updated our school reopening plan based on COVID-related guidance for schools. On May 11, 2023, the CDC released an updated Operational Guidance for K-12 Schools to Support Safe In-Person Learning. The New York State Department of Health recommends following the most current CDC guidelines.

The New York State Education Department currently has no plans to issue additional specific school COVID-19 guidance. 

See below for information about masks, positive covid tests, and more from the CDC.

Masks

Students and staff do not need to wear masks on the school bus or in school, however, any student or staff member may choose to wear a mask while at school to prevent the spread of illness. Mask-wearing is recommended for at least 10 days following a COVID exposure, positive COVID test or COVID illness (see below).

Illness/Positive COVID test

As with any infectious illness, students and staff who test positive for COVID-19, or who show symptoms, are asked to stay home from school and follow the Centers for Disease Control’s Isolation Guidance.

• Someone who tested positive and has no symptoms may return to school after day 5. When reporting a child’s absence to the school’s attendance office, please let staff know if your child tested positive for COVID-19. (Schools, like medical facilities, are required to keep track of illnesses such as COVID-19, flu, Pertussis, etc.)
• Someone who is sick (has symptoms) and tested positive may return to school after day 5 from the onset of symptoms if they have been fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication) and symptoms are improving.
• According to the CDC recommendations, people who have been sick, or tested positive, should wear a mask through day 10. Testing is not required to determine the end of isolation or mask use after having COVID-19; however people can use the test-based strategy outlined in the isolation guidance to potentially shorten the duration of post-isolation mask use.

At-home test kits

The Broadalbin-Perth Central School District has at-home COVID-19 test kits for use by students, family and community members.  If you need a home COVID test, please contact your child’s school nurse.

COVID-19 vaccination

COVID-19 vaccinations are not required to attend school. Children ages 6 months and older are all eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Children older than 5 are eligible for a booster. For more information, visit ny.gov/vaxtoschool.

Health and safety protocols

Routine cleaning in our school buildings continues to be an important strategy for reducing the spread of illness. High-risk areas such as health offices, classrooms, lunchrooms, athletic rooms, bathrooms and high-traffic areas are cleaned daily. High-touch surfaces such as lunch tables, desks, chairs, light switches and handrails are cleaned several times a day.

Updated September 2023