DUTCHESS COUNTY – The Arlington Central School District is going to a full-remote method of instruction beginning today, November 30, through Friday, December 4, due to rising COVID rates. The announcement was made via email Sunday evening.
Interim District Superintendent Dr. Larry Licopoli sent an email to district parents Sunday evening, saying in part ” This decision was based on our District’s number of positive cases impacting a high number of close contacts that are required to be quarantined since Thanksgiving Day. Moreover, with Dutchess County’s infection rate reaching 4.6% as of Friday, I do not have the confidence that we can ensure the safety and health of students, staff, and families, especially since the data suggests that more Arlington cases are possible over the course of this week.”
The President of the Arlington Teachers Association (ATA), Bob Maier lauded the announcement. “The ATA is very supportive of the decision of the Arlington Central School District to start back remote after Thanksgiving. With the rising tested cases in our faculty, staff, student population, and community this was the best decision to see what impact the holiday has on our positive cases.” Maier also noted that his membership, like many parents in the district, would like to get students back in the classroom. “As educators, we all understand that in-person instruction is what is best for our students, and we all want to return to our classrooms for in-person instruction, but the rising cases of Covid in our community makes schools a significant concern for spread.”
Steph Green has a daughter in the sixth-grade at Union Vale Middle School (UVMS). Green also endorses the decision to go to remote learning. “While I may be in the minority, I feel that Arlington’s choice to go remote following the Thanksgiving holiday is prudent and in the best interest of safety for students and staff. We have gotten a daily Covid email explaining new positive cases in students and staff in a myriad of buildings in the past two weeks, and it’s concerning. Albeit, the late notice is not optimal for many families, and I have chosen to keep my daughter remote for the second quarter for just this reason.”
Green also credited the district for its efforts to keep everyone safe. “Arlington has done a better job than any surrounding district at keeping families informed and putting together a transparent and concise plan to handle the spread of the virus.”
Information regarding the district’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic can be found here.
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