COVID-19 Testing Begins for Faculty/Staff

Testing for COVID-19 has begun for faculty and staff for schools in the designated Yellow Zone. Ms. Lynnette Brunger, principal of Heritage Middle School and Ms. Jessica Layne, assistant principal of Heritage Middle School participated in testing at their school. 

New York State (NYS) deemed numerous areas throughout the state as yellow zones due high COVID-19 positivity rates, and other factors. Parts of Newburgh and New Windsor are included in a yellow zone. All schools in the district are part of this yellow zone due to their address, except for Balmville and Fostertown.

Being part of a yellow zone means the district has to coordinate testing of our scholars for COVID-19. Schools in yellow zones must test 20% of students, staff and faculty. Schools can remain open while testing occurs.

The district is given a two-week window to perform the 20% testing. Our 20% testing mandate must be complete no later than Monday, February 1, 2021. If the results of the school testing revealed the positivity rate among the 20% of those tested is lower than the yellow zone’s 7-day positivity rate, testing at that school will no longer be required to continue.

If the results of the testing over the two weeks reveal that the positivity rate among in-person students, staff and faculty is higher than the Yellow Zone’s current 7-day positivity rate, the school will be required to continue to test 20% of the in-person population on a bi-weekly basis.

More information about testing can be found in the Testing FAQ Resource.

ATTENTION: Are your scholars or colleagues doing something great? Please contact the district Communications Team at communications@necsd.net. We’d love to visit your class or event and/or post your pictures and recap to highlight the amazing accomplishments throughout our district!