Cases close schools
Hudson Falls and Pine Hills pre-k will both move online for now./
COVID -19 cases continue to be reported by Capital Region school districts, as two districts Thursday shifted to remote learning — all of Hudson Falls schools, and Pine Hills pre-kindergarten classes in Albany.
Hudson Falls schools move online
The Hudson Falls Central School District announced Thursday that it will be temporarily pausing in-person learning and moving to a remote model after a person from the school community tested positive for COVID -19.
The pause will last for at least the next five school days (Oct. 1-7), the district said, citing a need to conduct testing, tracing and cleaning.
“Student, faculty, staff and community safety is our highest priority,” interim Superintendent Jon Hunter in a news release. “That is why we are pausing in-person learning for five days.”
The new case is the second known COVID -19 case within the school district. The district previously announced on Sept. 23 that a student who had not been in school facilities over the previous six days had tested positive.
It wasn't immediately clear why Hudson
Falls chose for all schools to go remote with two cases found.
Students were let go early from school Thursday. Hunter said the district will notify parents of the date for students to return to in-person, hybrid learning. That will be no sooner than next Thursday, he said.
The district is working with and following guidance from the Washington County Public Health department, he said.
An Albany elementary's pre-k moves online
After three days of full-day in-person instruction, pre-kindergarten classes at Pine Hills Elementary school will transition to remote learning because of a COVID -19 case.
The community member connected to prekindergarten classrooms was last in the building on Friday, Sept. 25 and notified the district of the diagnosis late Wednesday night, according to a note to district families from the Albany City School District.
It is the first diagnosis announced by the district since in-person classes began on Monday.
Following guidance from the Albany County Health Department, staff members associated with these classrooms are in quarantine and the classrooms will be closed until the health department provides clearance.
Students from these classrooms will shift to a virtual instructional model while the classrooms are deep-cleaned and sanitized; all other school operations and classes will continue normally.
Third positive test in East Greenbush
A student at Howard L.
Goff Middle School has tested positive for COVID -19, according to the East Greenbush Central School District.
The district was told of the student's diagnosis Wednesday by the Rensselaer County Department of Health.
School officials say the student has not been in school since Sept. 21 and the health department indicated that siblings and others who had contact with the student have been told to quarantine as a precaution.
The districts said it does not need to take further actions.
The child is believed to be the third student in the district to test positive.
Hadley-luzerne schools have sixth COVID-19 case
Warren County reported Thursday that HadleyLuzerne and Warrensburg school districts have people with ties to their schools who have tested positive.
For Hadley-luzerne, this would be the sixth case the small district has had. Stuart Townsend Elementary was already put on virtual learning this week after the district experienced five previous cases.
Hadley-luzerne told the school community Wednesday that an individual in the high school building tested positive. The person, however, had not been in the building for several days.
As such, the high school will remain open for inperson instruction under the guidance of Warren County Public Health.
Meanwhile, a person in the Warrensburg Elementary School, who was in the building for part of the day Friday, tested positive. But the safety precautions in place will allow for in-person education to continue, the district said.