School is out in Bellmore-Merrick for the 2019-20 academic year

Updated May 7, 2020.

Students in kindergarten through 12th grade will not return to their schools in Bellmore and Merrick for the rest of the academic year. They will instead continue with distance learning to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that schools would close statewide last Friday, as Covid-19 hospitalizations and deaths continued a steady decline, but the state was still seeing nearly a thousand new cases a day, which Cuomo said was unacceptably high.

The decision, which also extends to colleges, affects 4.2 million students statewide in 700 public school districts, 89 SUNY and CUNY schools, and 100 private universities.

“As difficult as this is to comprehend and write, it was certainly not unexpected,” wrote Central High School District Superintendent John DeTommaso in a letter to parents. “Although significant progress has been made to stop the spread, it is hard to argue this decision as Covid-19 continues to bring daily heartache and fear to our friends and neighbors.

“However, I cannot help [but feel] a tremendous sense of loss for our Bellmore-Merrick family with this last decision to close school,” DeTommaso continued. “The finality of it is hard to handle for all of us, but especially for our kids. Let us be certain to keep them in the forefront of our thoughts as they try to deal with something that very few people on this planet have ever experienced.”

DeTommaso also noted that administrators have worked to find ways to preserve seniors’ and middle schoolers’ end-of-year events.

“We are heartbroken that our physical school buildings will remain closed for the remainder of the school year,” said North Bellmore School District Superintendent Marie Testa in a statement. “However, that does not mean learning and connecting with one another will cease. Our staff has worked exceptionally hard to ensure our students and families remain connected during this difficult time. Until it is safe, we will continue to do our very best to provide a great education for the students of North Bellmore.”

“While this school closure will pose challenges and disappointments for families, children and educators, the closure is not unexpected,” Merrick School District Superintendent Dominick Palma wrote to parents. “The safety of our children and the whole community must come first. I am confident that the Merrick community will remain strong and persevere.”

In the Merrick district, mental health counselors have stayed connected with families and students through virtual family workshops. School psychologists and social workers have also been on hand to consult with families when needed.

“We are disappointed that our school buildings will not reopen for the remainder of the year,” said Bellmore School District Superintendent Joseph Famularo in a statement. “We are in unique times and must all do our part for the safety of others; however, our Bellmore Star Leaders will get through this and be stronger and better for the experience.”

For the first time in weeks, the number of overnight coronavirus deaths dropped below 300 last Thursday to Friday — from 306 to 289 — a 5.5 percent decline. New hospitalizations were also down.

The governor said state-mandated social distancing practices have prevented an estimated 100,000 new Covid-19 cases, which he said would have overrun the hospitals and caused even more deaths. “Our past actions changed the past trajectory,” he said.

Today’s actions will determine “the number of sick tomorrow,” he said — hence the need to keep school buildings closed and continue social distancing.

Cuomo advised educational institutions statewide to begin developing reopening plans, which must be approved by state officials. A determination on summer school would be made in the coming weeks, he added.

Of the virus, the governor said, “The enemy is on the run.” Now, however, state officials must determine more precisely why New York is still seeing nearly a thousand new cases a day. So the state is drilling down, looking at new cases by county.

New York County (Manhattan) had the most new cases overnight, with 167, followed by Kings (Brooklyn), Bronx, Queens and Nassau counties. Nassau had 97 new cases, or roughly 10 percent, of the statewide total.

The state is also looking at who is becoming infected (if they’re essential or non-essential workers) and where they might be contracting the virus (on public transportation or while at work). “Those are the questions the state is seeking to answer,” Cuomo said.

The governor added that people should continue wearing masks in public and keep up social distancing to protect others.