Dear Students, Families, and Staff Members,
Each Thursday evening the Department of Public Health releases the city/town and Berkshire County data updates for the previous 14 day period. The key information includes:
The positivity rate for the City of North Adams: Current rate is 1.72%.
The average positivity rate for 15 communities, not including North Adams, calculated from the total positive cases divided by the total number of tests for the last 14 days multiplied by 100: Current rate is 1.66%.
The pool testing results for this week’s students, staff, and student athletes are reported as negative, including the results for the end of last week and beginning of this week.
The report by the school nurse leader of the total number of cases of COVID by school and the status of each case (contact tracing, quarantine and self-isolation, and awaiting follow-up test results). There are a total of 3 cases in the district involving students and staff at Colegrove Park Elementary (2) and Drury High School (1).
On Friday, May 7, 2021, the COVID Data Team (a joint labor management team) met to review the data. The vote was unanimous to accept the data report. Except for those students who have not been cleared for a return to school due to contact tracing, the schools will continue to operate according to the schedule for in-person learning in grades preK through 8 and the hybrid learning model for grades 9 through 12 on Monday, May 10, 2021.
In school transmission rates remain very low due to the effective use of all mitigation strategies, including: masks, physical distancing, disinfection protocols, and the addition of a pooled testing program. While obtaining a vaccination can provide the protection from getting the most serious complications of COVID-19, it may not provide blanket immunity to the virus. The existence of multiple variants of the virus with different profiles for contagion and impact is still a consideration. Governor Baker has authorized vaccination for anyone over the age of 16, but 16 and 17 year olds will need a parent/guardian to accompany them to the vaccination site. There are appointments available through the Berkshire County Vaccination Collaborative. Please go to the Berkshire County Vaccination Collaborative website to schedule your appointment, or attend the walk-in vaccination clinics as scheduled. We are expecting an announcement regarding the approval of vaccines for children 12 to 15 years of age in the coming week.
The high school students are scheduled to return to school for in-person learning on May 17, 2021. Your continued use of mitigation measures while not in school will help to keep our students in school for longer periods of time and get all students back to school for in-person learning. Please practice prevention of infection and as always, if a staff member or student develops symptoms it is imperative that they stay home and contact their health care provider.
Pooled Testing Program
North Adams Public Schools has implemented a voluntary free weekly COVID-19 testing program to help keep our staff, students and community safe and help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Regular COVID-19 testing of students and staff will help us lower the risk of the disease in our school by finding and isolating individuals who have COVID-19 quickly, even before or if they show symptoms.
We have confidence in our safety protocols including masking, distancing, and disinfection protocols. The weekly COVID-19 testing program is just another way we are striving to keep our school environment safe for everyone. It is not too late to provide consent for your child to participate in this valuable program.
The ability to join the pooled testing program by providing consent will remain an open enrollment process and you can submit your consent form at any time. Please provide an individual consent form for each of your children who attends North Adams Public Schools.The more individuals who participate, the safer our schools will be!
To participate in the testing program, you need to sign a consent form. You only need to sign once to consent for testing each week. The consent form can be found on the new COVID Pool Testing Program webpage on the district webpage located here.
Have Questions? Contact Lauren Gage, District Testing Coordinator and School Nurse Leader at lgage@napsk12.org.
Thank you and we hope each of you and your families remain healthy!
Dr. Barbara Malkas