BACK TO SCHOOL BY MID-APRIL?
Ulster County issues guidance for in-person learning to resume
KINGSTON, N.Y. » With the COVID-19 pandemic beginning to ease, Ulster County on Thursday issued guidance for schools in the county to fully resume in-person learning next month.
The guidance, posted online at bit.ly/uc-schools, includes, among other things, adherence to social-distance protocols (including on school buses), installing barriers and sneeze guards, having students’ desks all face in the same direction, keeping communal areas (such as cafeterias) closed or cleaning them between staggered uses, and having proper ventilation.
Also, the guidance says, remote learning should still be offered to students who choose to opt out of coming to their buildings.
The guidance was developed by the Ulster County Department of Health and made public Thursday by County Executive Pat Ryan’s Office. Ryan said during a Facebook Live briefing Thursday afternoon that nearly all teachers in the county have been vaccinated against COVID.
Ulster BOCES Superintendent Charles V. Khoury, who participated in the briefing, said in-person learning under the new
protocols could resume in mid-April.
A statement from the county health department said the county “believes it is possible for a safe return to full-time, in-person learning,” but that, “ultimately, it is a decision that must be made by each school district, with consultation with all stakeholders, including teachers, parents and others in the school community.”
“Factors of overall health, including mental health impacts, socialization and additional resources for students with disabilities, must be weighed against the risks of a possible increase in local in-school transmission [of COVID],” the department said.
By the numbers
Ulster County reported Thursday that it had 1,593 active cases of COVID-19, up from the 1,582 total reported a day earlier.
The county reported 85 new cases of COVID out of the most recent 1,715 test results received, a rate of 5%, but also 74 additional recoveries.
Ulster County has had 11,488 confirmed cases of COVID since the local outbreak began last March, 9,659 recoveries and 236 deaths related to the illness. No additional deaths were reported Thursday.
Dutchess County reported Thursday that it had 995 active cases of COVID, down sharply from the 1,195 it reported Wednesday. The county reported no additional COVID-related deaths, keeping its yearlong total at 415.
Dutchess had had 23,388 confirmed cases of COVID since last March and 21,878 recoveries.
The county’s most recent seven-day average of positive test results is 4.12%.
In the schools
Newly reported cases of COVID-19 in area school districts are as follows, according to New York state.
• Kingston: Two on-site students at Ernest C. Meyer Elementary School, one onsite student at J. Watson Bailey Middle School, one on-site student at M. Clifford Miller School, and one on-site student at Robert Graves Elementary School.
• Ellenville: One off-site elementary school student and one off-site middle school student.
• Highland: One on-site high school student and two on-site middle schoolers.
• Marlboro: Two on-site high school students and one on-site elementary school student.
• Onteora: One on-site high school student.
• Saugerties: One on-site student at Mount Marion Elementary School and one off-site high schooler.
• Wallkill: One on-site student at John G. Borden Middle School, one on-site student at Ostrander Elementary School, and one on-site high schooler.
WOODSTOCK, N.Y. » The town Housing Committee is calling for a moratorium on new land-use applications in Woodstock to stem the tide of projects that are reducing the stock of affordable housing.
Housing Committee member Susan Goldman read a letter outlining the committee’s concerns during a videoconference meeting of the Town Board on Tuesday.
“Woodstock is facing an unprecedented transition of ownership of properties away from individual fulltime and part-time residents,” she said. “Many of the new owners are LLCs (limited liability corporations) or individuals whose intentions for development and use of these properties are unclear.”
Among the committee’s concerns is that residential properties are being purchased with the intent of turning them into short-term rental businesses.
“The increase in shortterm rentals over the past few years underscores our concern that many purchasers are investing in Woodstock as a commodity, not as a community,” Goldman said.
The committee’s letter said a moratorium would allow the town to complete a zoning update that would support the development of residential housing.
Councilwoman Laura Ricci agreed that a pause in development would provide the needed time to draft laws addressing the commercialization of private property. “The Woodstock Zoning Revision Committee supports the concept of a moratorium on commercial building ... for a ninemonth or longer period of time while we assess and address zoning law updates to preserve our historic Woodstock community,” Ricci said.
Ricci said the revisions would need to make sure there is an emphasis on having housing available for “residents of all incomes.”
Town Supervisor Bill McKenna agreed there is a threat from developers who consider the region to have a strong economic future.
“It’s not just Woodstock,” he said. “I’ve heard stories throughout the county of outside forces coming in . ... So it’s an onslaught.”
Town Board members said they will seek additional information about what a moratorium would cover.