The District recently learned that a member of the Montgomery C. Smith Elementary School community tested positive for COVID-19. The student has NOT been on a school bus or in a school building.

At this time, the Columbia County Department of Health (CCDOH) has not advised the District to alter operations in any way and the school building will remain open as scheduled. The CCDOH is responsible for determining if quarantine is required and the duration of the quarantine.

CCDOH will reach out to those parents/guardians of students who may have been in close contact with the COVID-positive individual outside of school and determine if there is a need to be placed on quarantine. If you have additional questions or you have reason to believe that you or your child(ren) were exposed, and you have not been contacted by CCDOH, please call 518-828-3358 and a CCDOH contact tracer will assist you.

Please note that we are not permitted by privacy laws to identify the individual involved. We have provided as much information as possible.

Per the governor’s Executive Order, districts must report the number of confirmed cases on a daily basis to the New York State Department of Health. This information is publicly available on the New York State COVID Report Card (also linked on the District website in the “Reopening & COVID-19” drop down menu).

As part of our COVID-19 communications, the District will send a message in the event of a confirmed case through Blackboard:

  • An email will be sent to staff/families in the impacted school building with specific information about working with Columbia County Department of Health and quarantine procedures as needed.
  • A general email will be sent to the remainder of district staff/families informing them of a confirmed case in a school building.
  • If the confirmed case changes school operations, such as a building closure, we will also send a phone call and text message to families in the impacted building(s).

All students and staff members must continue to complete the daily health screenings when they are scheduled to attend school in-person.

In these challenging times, rest assured that the District’s priority is protecting the health, welfare, and safety of students and staff while complying with any government orders and guidance related to the opening of schools.