Letter from Superintendent Dr. Robert Shaps

November 18, 2020

Dear Community Members,

As we aim to keep our schools open, continue in-person learning and operate our schools under local and State health and safety guidelines, we are challenged by the rise of COVID-19 infection rates in our region and beyond. Although NY State took leadership in establishing safety protocols for school districts opening in September, the State's provision of resources to support COVID-19 testing has been lacking.

Seeking a Testing Partner

For the past couple months, I have been actively seeking to establish a partnership with a lab to provide pool and individual testing to students, faculty and staff. As we approach the holiday season and look ahead to the winter months, it is our strong belief that the implementation of a reliable, consistent and sustainable testing initiative in Mamaroneck Schools will help us stop any potential spread of COVID-19 and maintain and preserve the hybrid learning experience we have been so pleased to be able to offer so far this school year.

Board joining School Boards Association in Call to Action from State

Meanwhile, the Westchester Putnam School Boards Association (WPSBA) is calling on NYS legislators to provide public school districts in designated hotspots/"micro-clusters" with logistical and financial support needed for State-mandated random COVID testing of students and staff. And, at last evening's Board of Education meeting, the Mamaroneck BOE passed a resolution with the same intention.

What can community members do to help?

Specifically, the Board of Education and I are requesting your help in advocating on behalf of area school districts by taking just a few minutes to quickly and simply contact legislators and the Governor. (Please click on the box that reads "Keep School Buildings Open", Enter Your Info and select Send.)

In the coming days, we will continue to investigate and identify possible outside medical providers to proactively partner with and determine what is possible within the realm of testing in our school setting. This is one important piece in our efforts to take every precaution to keep our school community safe and help mitigate any potential outbreak, and we will make sure to keep the community and Board updated.

Thank you, as always, for your support of our schools and our students. I recognize the collective exhaustion we all feel, and, at the same time, remain committed to ensuring that school during this pandemic continues to play a vital role in enabling our students to blossom academically, socially and emotionally. We WILL get through this together, as there is simply no other way.

Warm Regards,

Dr. Robert I. Shaps
Superintendent of Schools