Dear GASD staff, students and parents,
In order to help mitigate and decrease COVID-related exposures in our area, the Montgomery County Public Health Department, in conjunction with the Greater Amsterdam School District has decided to move all students to Remote Only Learning on Monday, Nov. 23 and Tuesday, Nov. 24. All teachers and staff should report to school those days as usual. All schools will be closed for Thanksgiving recess through the rest of the week.
The temporary switch to Remote Only Learning is not due to any one specific event or COVID-19 case but a conglomerate of what is happening in the Amsterdam community at large, explained Public Health Director Sara Boerenko.
“During the past several days we have experienced community-based COVID spreads in our nursing homes, and through birthday parties, family gatherings, and large workplace exposures,” Boerenko said. “As a result, in order to protect the GASD school community and the building level structure, this decision was made out of an abundance of caution.”
GASD Superintendent of School Richard Ruberti reiterated that the COVID spread that is being traced in the local community has not been linked to a spread or exposure in any of our schools. “We hope to reopen for in-person learning after the Thanksgiving break but stay tuned for more information on our district website and through our Parent Square notification system,” Ruberti said.
As for the remote class schedules, students/parents should refer to the following website link, “How instruction will continue if school is closed due to COVID-19”:
How instruction will continue if school is closed due to COVID-19
Also please note that while in-person instruction is suspended Nov. 23-24:
- All student in-person after-school activities are cancelled until further notice.
- All outside BOCES program placements and the Career Tech Education program will go on as usual. Families will be contacted directly regarding times and busing arrangements.
- The Grab & Go student meal pickup schedule will be held as usual on Monday, Nov. 23 and Wednesday, Nov. 25, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at Amsterdam High School and McNulty Academy.
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate through these challenging times.
Sincerely,
Superintendent Richard Ruberti