January 28, 2021

Dear Ken-Ton Community,

As you know, the Ken-Ton School District has been conducting random COVID-19 testing to comply with Gov. Cuomo’s Orange Zone Micro-Cluster requirements. Yesterday, the Governor announced that all Orange and Yellow Zone restrictions have been lifted statewide, except for remaining Yellow Zones in New York City and nearby Newburgh. This means our area will no longer be designated as an Orange or Yellow Zone and the previous Micro-Cluster requirements, including random testing, are no longer in effect.

Because we are no longer in an Orange or Yellow Zone, our schools will no longer be conducting COVID-19 testing. Random testing had only been conducted to reopen, and remain open, for in-person instruction under the Micro-Cluster requirements. Now that we are no longer required to test students/staff, we are cancelling all scheduled COVID-19 tests as of today (Thursday, January 28). This includes elementary school testing scheduled to take place on Wednesday, February 3, and Wednesday, February 10. For families who have signed up for these dates, your appointments will be cancelled. Thank you to everyone for your patience, dedication, and collaboration during the testing process.

According to the NYS Department of Health, the decision to lift the Micro-Cluster designation was due to a decline in new cases and hospitalization rates over the past weeks. This would not have been possible without everyone in our community doing their part. Thank you to all of our students, staff, and families for staying safe and reducing the spread of the virus. The support of families and staff enabled us to meet the 20% testing requirement and reopen our schools.

It is important to note that all other COVID-19 requirements remain in effect for all in-person students, staff, and visitors. These include:

• Staying home when sick
• Wearing masks at all times
• Social distancing
• Frequent hand washing/hand sanitizing
• Temperature checks before coming to school
• Participation in the daily health screening questionnaire
• Temperature scanners at entrances
• Quarantine/isolation per ECDOH guidelines

We need everyone to continue doing your part. We must not become complacent. Please continue to follow all of the recommendations to reduce the spread of the virus. This will help ensure that our schools continue to remain some of the safest environments in our community and remain open to in-person instruction.

This Friday’s edition of the Ken-Ton Weekly Connection will summarize this significant development as well as very important updates regarding athletics.

Remember, together we are Ken-Ton Strong, Ken-Ton Proud, and we will continue to move Ken-Ton Forward!

Sincerely,

Sabatino Cimato

Superintendent of Schools