Sent via SchoolMessenger email on September 24, 2020
Dear South Orangetown Families,
Our District was notified last evening that an individual at Tappan Zee High School tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday, September 23. This individual was at TZHS on Monday and Tuesday of this week. Due to HIPAA and FERPA laws, we cannot disclose additional information.
District administrators are working collaboratively with the Rockland County Department of Health and cooperating with contact tracing efforts. Those who are identified as a contact of this individual or of any person who has tested positive will receive an email from the District and/or a call from a Contact Tracer from the Department of Health:
- For such calls, your caller ID may read “NYS Contact Tracing” or display a phone number with a 518 area code.
- Please promptly answer these calls.
- Your identity and the information you share will remain confidential.
- Please provide Contact Tracers with the information they need to protect our entire School District community.
In the meantime, TZHS will be closed through Friday, September 25 for building-wide disinfection. No students or staff are to report in person to TZHS. During this temporary closure, TZHS classes will continue online as scheduled. Meals pre-ordered for in-person TZHS students will be suspended temporarily. Transportation for high school students who do not attend school on the Tappan Zee High School campus will continue as scheduled. All other SOCSD schools are open.
At this time, we anticipate that TZHS will reopen for in-person student and staff attendance on Tuesday, September 29.
I know that this news will cause concern among all our families and staff. However, please refrain from speculation and respect the privacy of the affected individual. Please be safe.
Sincerely,
Robert R. Pritchard, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools