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On Monday, March 9, during a press briefing on coronavirus, Cuomo said that schools in New Rochelle may be closing, potentially for weeks, after an outbreak of COVID-19 that stemmed from a city resident.
However, New Rochelle Schools Superintendent Laura Feijóo said that schools will remain open until the district is directly contacted and ordered to shut down by the state or federal government.
“We have been in contact with the Governor's office multiple times and have determined that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is ‘contemplating recommending’ the closing of schools in New Rochelle,” she said. “The Governor's office was notified of this contemplation this morning. We have communicated to the Governor's office that schools will stay open unless and until we receive a written directive to close.”
As of March 9, there are now 142 positive coronavirus cases in New York, including 96 in Westchester County (including 16 new cases). Globally, there have been 111,758 confirmed COVID-19 cases, which led to 3,889 deaths. Of those cases, 566 were reported in the United States, including 22 deaths.
“We believe students are safest in schools,” Feijóo said. “It is inevitable that one of our students or staff will contract the virus. What is in our control is to be ready, calm, decisive, and responsive to any and all circumstances which may arise. Our PREP Plan, which has led the State through this difficult time, does just that. As always, the (school district) is fully committed to all of our students. We will continue to update you with prompt and accurate information.
Cuomo said that New Rochelle is “a significant hotspot,” and that he is consulting with the CDC about how to handle the situation. He introduced a new policy for schools moving forward, which includes shutting buildings down for at least 24 hours when there is a positive test in a student or staff member.
“We’re talking about closing schools in that area,” the governor said. “The question now is for how long? We could be talking weeks. We’re going to do an assessment over 24 hours and make a determination going forward given the facts in a particular school district.”
While some schools - such as those in Scarsdale - announced they will be closing for days or weeks, the New Rochelle School District has remained open as Superintendent Laura Feijoo “eagerly awaits (Cuomo’s) much-anticipated plan for school closures as it relates to coronavirus.”
“Had (New Rochelle) closed schools, it would have resulted in 11,000 students being asked to stay home. Many of our students do not have home care availability during the day,” she said. “If students are asked to stay home, many of them would likely congregate anyway.
"Furthermore, from a strategic long-term perspective, closing schools has no ‘end game.’ Once schools reopen, a student or staff member could test positive and so the cycle of school closures would continue. Students graduating do not have the luxury of missing critical seat time.”
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