Two Covid-19 cases confirmed at South Side Middle School

Sixth-graders at South Side Middle School will switch to remote learning for the next two weeks after the district confirmed two positive Covid-19 among staff members. The entire school was closed Monday to allow the Department of Health to conduct contact tracing, according to district officials, and an announcement came later that day that the sixth-grade class will not return to the school building until Nov. 16.

“Out of an abundance of caution and due to the impact of contact tracing on the operations of SSMS, all sixth-grade students will switch to remote learning for the next eight school days,” Superintendent June Chang wrote in a letter to the community.

According to the district’s website, there have been five confirmed cases in Rockville Centre schools this fall: Two at South Side Middle School, two at Wilson Elementary School and one at South Side High School.

Chang said the district has been working diligently with the DOH and is monitoring any reported symptoms.

“The overall health and safety of our students, staff, and community is a top priority,” Chang said, noting that the custodial staff will continue to clean and disinfect the facilities daily.

All district schools are closed Tuesday for Election Day. Seventh- and eighth-graders will continue  their hybrid schedules on Wednesday.