Sullivan County schools closed for three weeks

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Mid-Hudson News file photo of a school bus with stop arm cameras.

MONTICELLO – With cases of the 2019 novel coronavirus in very county surrounding Sullivan, County Manager Joshua Potosek, in consultation with BOCES District Superintendent Robert Dufour, is instructing all eight public school districts in the county to close for the next three weeks, through April 3.

The order applies to the following districts: Eldred, Fallsburg, Liberty, Livingston Manor, Monticello, Roscoe, Sullivan West and Tri-Valley.

The four other districts which serve portions of Sullivan County – Ellenville, Pine Bush, Port Jervis and Minisink Valley – have already been closed by their respective county and school leaders.

“This was a difficult decision to make, considering how disruptive this closure may be to children’s education, including my own,” Potosek said. “But given the circumstances – including the fact that virtually every school district surrounding Sullivan County has already closed for at least two weeks – this is the most prudent choice. We cannot allow coronavirus to rapidly spread through the classrooms and hallways of our schools. That promises to be far more disruptive than a controlled closure.”

“I have been in daily contact with the seven superintendents of our eight component school districts, and we are in agreement this is the right decision at the right time,” Dr. Dufour said. “In fact, we have been preparing for this probability, including the possibility of distance learning alternatives. I ask all students, parents and district supporters to be patient with us and to work with us as we continue to respond proactively to the coronavirus threat.”

While Potosek’s order is statutorily limited to five days, he intends to renew it for three weeks, ensuring local schools remain closed through April 3.

 




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