Sept. 2, 2020
Dear Merrick Avenue Families,
This afternoon, we were notified by the Nassau County Health Department that a staff member at Merrick Avenue Middle School has tested positive for COVID-19. As a result of the positive diagnosis, a full investigation, which included contact tracing, was completed by the Nassau County Health Department. This investigation determined that only one additional staff member was considered a close contact (defined as within 6 feet for a prolonged period of time – for 10 minutes or more) and that there were no additional exposures to students and staff. Therefore, no additional testing or quarantines are necessary for any other individuals, including students and staff who attended our Orientation Program. According to the guidelines from the New York Department of Health and the Nassau County Health Department, the individual who tested positive for COVID-19 will not be allowed to return to school for ten days and after a negative test result has been provided to the district. In addition, the staff member who had close contact with the individual who was diagnosed with COVID-19 will be required to quarantine for fourteen days.
We will continue to work closely with the Commissioner of Health and the Nassau County Health Department and take all necessary precautions to ensure the health and safety of our school community prior to the opening of school next week. As always, the health and safety of our students and staff is our foremost priority. Today, opening faculty and staff meetings were conducted as scheduled and we look forward to the opening of school on September 8th.
Be safe and be well,
John DeTommaso, Superintendent of Schools and Katelyn Dunn, Building Principal