SOME IMPORTANT UPDATES

Again sharing updates with all of you.   I am coping in an email I received from the Athletic Director written by Juliette Pennyman.   It states that proof of the covid vaccination, and weekly testing will be NOT required for my son to play lax this spring. I have asked the BOE why this information has not been shared as a district wide email as other Covid 19 mitigation protocols have been.   I have not received a reply.

I also want to bring to light that a board member has publicly stated during the March 1, 2022 board meeting that only 4% of the petition signatures were Niskayuna residents.   This is not accurate as this person only looked at signatures that registered as "Niskayuna" in their addresses.  Emails have been sent explaining that our Nisky residents could have Schenectady, Glennville, Clifton Park, Alplaus  etc come up as well as requesting this misinformation be addressed and corrected.  Again, I have not received a reply. 

"Note from Niskayuna CSD Athletics:

This email is in reference to: Quinn Gullickson, Spring 2022 Athletic Registration

Student athletes participating in lacrosse, unified basketball and unified cheer, the high-risk sports offered this spring, will not be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or complete weekly testing.

Since August 2021, based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance, the district has required students participating in high-risk sports to be fully vaccinated while community transmission remained high. At its February 15, 2022 meeting, the Board of Education amended that requirement to allow for student athletes to be tested weekly in lieu of vaccination.

On February 25, the CDC updated its metrics for monitoring community spread of COVID-19. Levels can be low, medium or high and are determined by looking at hospital beds being used, hospital admissions and the total number of new COVID-19 cases in an area. Schenectady County is now in low community transmission based on the CDC’s Community Levels.

I am looking forward to our students competing in an exciting and rewarding spring athletics season. Our collective efforts to reduce the spread of this disease have made a difference and will continue to be important.

Families and staff are encouraged to make use of at-home COVID-19 tests, which are being distributed at each school building and the district office. All staff and students should continue to follow our protocols when experiencing symptoms, testing positive or being exposed to COVID-19.

What To Do When...

An individual tests positive for COVID-19
An individual is experiencing COVID-like symptoms (testing requirements)
An individual has been exposed to COVID-19
As always, we will continue to work closely with our state and local health officials to adjust our COVID-19 mitigation protocols as needed.

Thank you,

Juliette Pennyman, Ed.D.

Interim Superintendent"