An Update from the Superintendent

Over the past several months, the Granville Central School District has worked tirelessly to support a safe return to a hybrid and in-person model of instruction for the 2020-2021 school year. The steps we have taken to minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission within our district have to date proven successful allowing us to follow our original reopening plans.  This has been an enormous benefit for our overall educational experience. 

While the infection rate in Washington County remains relatively low, the infection rate across New York State is increasing, and the CDC and DOH project an increase in community transmissions due to the holiday season. As part of Executive Order 202.68, Governor Cuomo introduced a “Cluster Action Initiative” which classifies regions, based on infection rates of Yellow, Orange, and Red. If designated, each color requires enhanced public health restrictions, limiting non-essential gatherings, houses of worship, restaurants and taverns, gyms and fitness centers, personal care services, and schools.

School districts located in areas identified as Orange or Red zones must transition to a fully remote learning environment until the designation is lifted due to reduced transmission. In a Yellow Zone, schools may remain open if those schools conduct random weekly COVID-19 tests on 20% of their population (students, faculty, and staff). We are currently working with the Washington County Department of Health and our school’s medical provider to explore all options that would allow us to continue to follow our current model of instruction.

At this point, our investigation is just beginning, and I do not know if we will be able to meet the new NYS requirements or not, should our district fall into a Yellow Zone. I will provide additional information to everyone as soon as we have it. As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Regards,
Thomas D. McGurl

Superintendent

**An Updated Message from Washington County - Holiday Travel**

In the Event of a Positive COVID Test Result on Campus

September 18, 2020

Dear Parents, Faculty and Staff,

As the school districts across New York State have reopened for the 2020-2021 school year, the guidelines for the daily operation of the district continues to be reviewed, modified, and updated.  Specifically, the Department of Health has provided revised protocol in the event that there is a Confirmed COVID positive case in the district.

If the Washington County Department of Health has a confirmed positive COVID diagnosis of a student, faculty, or staff member, the district will be applying an automatic closure and period of remote learning for the entire building in which the positive case exists for a minimum period of twenty-four (24) hours.  During this period, the district will work in conjunction with the Department of Health, who will begin their initial investigation and contact tracing procedure.  The results of the Department of Health investigation will then determine the extent of the possible exposure and their recommendations for further quarantine and/or reopening the district. 

In the event that we have a positive case on campus, I will notify the community of that fact as well as the date(s) of the closure via Robo-Call as well as a posting on our website.  As such, it is VERY important that the district has an accurate telephone number as well as email address for you.  While we hope that the district will continue to remain COVID free, we want be sure we inform our community of the various scenarios that we may encounter. 

We appreciate your continued support of the district during these trying times.  If you should have any questions regarding this information, I would encourage you to please contact your child’s administrator or myself.

Sincerely,

Tom McGurl

Superintendent of Schools

Meal Request Form

Mental Health Resource Guide