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Schools
COVID-19: School District In Region Announces Closure COVID-19: School District In Region Announces Closure
Covid-19: School District In Region Announces Closure A school district in Fairfield County will be closed on Monday, Jan. 3, and Tuesday, Jan. 4, as a result of COVID-related staffing challenges. The Stratford Public School system said that "This will position us to allow impacted staff members and students to receive current test results and potentially complete their quarantine for a safer return." In an earlier announcement, the Westport School District said it will extend the winter break by one day for all students and that Monday, Jan. 3 will not be a school day for students. All faculty and staff will report on Monday. "This will…

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by Joe Lombardi
Schools
COVID-19: NY Cancels January Regents Exams Due To Pandemic COVID-19: NY Cancels January Regents Exams Due To Pandemic
Covid-19: NY Cancels January Regents Exams Due To Pandemic High school students in New York will be exempt from taking the January Regents exams due to the spike of fresh COVID-19 infections that have been threatening the entire state. The New York State Education Department announced on Tuesday, Dec. 21 that the exams have been canceled due to the surge of new COVID-19 cases, specifically those tied to the highly transmissible Omicron variant of the virus. It marks the second straight year that the Education Department canceled the Regents exams due to the spread of COVID-19. “New York set a daunting record last week with more COVID-19 cases rep…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
COVID-19: Yale University Goes Remote As Cases Increase, Will Require Boosters COVID-19: Yale University Goes Remote As Cases Increase, Will Require Boosters
Covid-19: Yale University Goes Remote As Cases Increase, Will Require Boosters Yale University has moved final exams online amid concerns about the recent increase in COVID-19 cases. In a message to undergraduate students on Saturday, Dec. 18, university officials said the decision was made to allow students to return home early if they wish. "While Yale has not experienced the same increase in COVID rates as some other universities, we know that many of you are concerned about remaining on campus during the finals period," the letter, signed by officials reads. "Although the risk of transmission during in-person examinations is small, we want you to be able to go hom…

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by Nicole Valinote
Schools
COVID-19: Hofstra University Students, Employees Will Be Required To Get Boosters COVID-19: Hofstra University Students, Employees Will Be Required To Get Boosters
Covid-19: Hofstra University Students, Employees Will Be Required To Get Boosters Hofstra University in Hempstead has joined a growing number of universities in the region that are requiring students and staff to receive a booster COVID-19 vaccine amid the recent increase in cases. The university's President Susan Poser said in a message to the community that all students and staff will be required to get a booster shot within seven days of becoming eligible beginning with those who are eligible on or before Tuesday, Jan. 18. Poser said the decision was made due to the increase in cases of the Omicron variant.  Students and employees will be required to upload…

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by Nicole Valinote
Schools
Long Island School Principal Target Of Racist Harassment, Officials Say Long Island School Principal Target Of Racist Harassment, Officials Say
Long Island School Principal Target Of Racist Harassment, Officials Say A Long Island school principal has been the subject of harassment “with a racial tone,” prompting a police investigation, officials announced. Syosset Central School District Superintendent Tom Rogers sent a letter to the community advising that Grove Elementary School Principal Mi Jung An has been the recipient of anonymous letters and that small handmade signs were placed near the school on Colony Lane, though it is unclear what was posted on them. “The district immediately reported each of these events to the Nassau Police and has been actively supporting their subsequent investigation,”…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
COVID-19: Cornell University Reports Nearly 900 Student Cases In Past Week COVID-19: Cornell University Reports Nearly 900 Student Cases In Past Week
Covid-19: Cornell University Reports Nearly 900 Student Cases In Past Week Confirmed COVID-19 cases continue to increase at Cornell University a day after the university announced it was moving to Alert Level Red. According to Cornell's COVID-19 dashboard, 276 new COVID-19 cases have been reported, bringing the total number of students to test positive for COVID-19 between Tuesday, Dec. 7, and Monday, Dec. 13, to 883. Earlier report - COVID-19: Cornell Shutting Campus, Moving To 'Alert Level Red' After Rapid Spread Of Virus On Tuesday, Dec. 14, Cornell University President Martha Pollack said the university would be implementing new safety measures, includin…

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by Nicole Valinote
Schools
Connecticut School Board Member Punched, Knocked Down During Public Hearing Connecticut School Board Member Punched, Knocked Down During Public Hearing
Connecticut School Board Member Punched, Knocked Down During Public Hearing A school board member in Connecticut was punched during a contentious meeting meant to be about a high school mascot. In Hartford County, a man punched a board of education member during a special meeting held in Glastonbury to discuss the high school’s mascot, which was changed from the Tomahawks to the Guardians last year, much to the dismay of some. During the meeting, tensions rose, and a fight broke out between someone in attendance and a board of education member during a break in the mascot discussion. It is unclear what caused the fight. Last year, the district moved to change the …

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by Zak Failla
Schools
COVID-19: Nassau School Goes Remote Due To High Number Of Cases COVID-19: Nassau School Goes Remote Due To High Number Of Cases
Covid-19: Nassau School Goes Remote Due To High Number Of Cases With the number of COVID-19 cases mounting among students and staff, a Long Island high school is going remote for the rest of the year to help curtail the spread of the virus. The East Rockaway Junior-Senior High School transitioned to its distance learning model as of Wednesday, Dec. 15 after confirming 20 more cases in students and three in staff members. With the newly confirmed cases, there are now approximately 100 students in quarantine, representing nearly 25 percent of the entire school population. According to district officials, through contact tracing, it was determined that mo…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Long Island High School Goes Remote After Threat Long Island High School Goes Remote After Threat
Long Island High School Goes Remote After Threat Two threats to a Long Island high school prompted district officials to transition students to its remote learning plan as police investigate. The threats were made targeting the West Babylon Senior High School on Friday, Dec. 10, which led the district to switch to its distance learning model amid the investigation. According to police, a threat was posted on social media on Thursday, Dec. 9 from that appeared to show the student with a gun and the words "I'll start shooting, I hate that school.” “As a result of some concerning images and threatening language that was shared with the high…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
SUNY Chancellor Resigns Amid Backlash Over Cuomo Accuser Comments SUNY Chancellor Resigns Amid Backlash Over Cuomo Accuser Comments
SUNY Chancellor Resigns Amid Backlash Over Cuomo Accuser Comments Another domino has fallen in the wake of former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's resignation over sexual harassment claims by former employees. SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras, once one of Cuomo’s closest advisors, announced that he was stepping away amid calls for his resignation after he made disparaging comments about one of the former governor’s accusers. Malatras’ resignation takes effect on Friday, Jan. 14. 
“I have had no higher honor in my lifetime in public service than serving as the 14th Chancellor of the State University of New York," Malatras’ resignation letter began. "I'm proud to …

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Long Island School District Hit By Ransomware Attack Long Island School District Hit By Ransomware Attack
Long Island School District Hit By Ransomware Attack A school district was hit by a ransomware attack that shut down the district’s computer system and disrupted its technology infrastructure. Shortly before 9 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 3 on Long Island, the Riverhead Central School District alerted the community that they were experiencing an “outage” with their Internet and email accounts. According to school officials, the outage was caused by a ransomware attack, district faculty and staff have been notified of the incident, and local police have been advised of the situation. Related story - Long Island School District Victim Of Ransomware A…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Racial Remark By NY School Staffer Prompts Student Walkout, Investigation Racial Remark By NY School Staffer Prompts Student Walkout, Investigation
Racial Remark By NY School Staffer Prompts Student Walkout, Investigation Students at a school in the area staged a temporary walkout in solidarity for a classmate after a staffer reportedly made a racially insensitive comment to a student-athlete in Westchester County. An investigation has been launched at Iona Prep in New Rochelle, the school's president, Brother Thomas R. Leto, announced in a statement after the administration was made aware of the comment over the weekend reportedly made on Friday, Nov. 19, reporting it immediately to authorities. In response, on Tuesday, Nov. 23, students staged the brief walkout in support of the student and to speak out a…

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by Zak Failla