Six more COVID-19 cases at GCSD

GUILDERLAND — On Monday evening, Guilderland High School Principal Michael Piscitelli sent an email to “GHS Families” to say that the school has four new cases of COVID-19.

“Only one of these cases requires contact tracing,” Piscitelli wrote. “I am working under the Albany County Department of Health guidance to notify those individuals who need to quarantine. The Department of Health should be following up with them.”

Classes at the high school are currently fully remote because of earlier quarantine requirements that caused a staff shortage.

“For now, the plan is for students to return for hybrid instruction on Wednesday, Dec. 16,” Piscitelli wrote. “However, this plan is subject to change pending the impact of contract tracing and the need for individuals to quarantine.”

Les than an hour after Piscitelli sent his email, Superintendent Marie Wiles sent an email to “GCSD Families” letting them know about two more COVID-19 cases the district had learned of on Monday:

—  One at Lynnwood Elementary School, where those who need to quarantine are being contacted by the school’s principal; and

— The other at Farnsworth Middle School where no contact tracing is required.

Both Lynnwood and Farnsworth continue to be open for in-person instruction.

As of Monday evening, the state’s COVID-19 Report Card said that Guilderland High School had 24 cases so far this semester, six of them in the last week. Six staff members had tested positive for the disease as had 18 students.

The state’s tracker reported that altogether the Guilderland schools have had 38 COVID-19 cases this school year.

More Guilderland News

  • Several parents recommended to the board that the child be home-schooled, which the district’s lawyer said the board has no legal right to do. Others expressed fear as well as anger while a 13-year-old student, who had been targeted, said he didn’t feel safe despite two adults accompanying the boy during the school day.

  • Asked if the Superfund site and the neighboring Patroon Creek are now safe, a spokesman for EPA responded, “The February 2024 Five-Year Review indicated that the Mercury Refining site is protective of human health and the environment now that all institutional controls, including environmental easements, are in place.”

  • A public hearing was recently held on the proposed update, which is meant to “create a vision for the future for the town of Guilderland,” and is “intended to be a blueprint for the town and identify recommendations for a series of topics,” consultant Jaclyn Hakes told plan update committee members on Sept. 10.

The Altamont Enterprise is focused on hyper-local, high-quality journalism. We produce free election guides, curate readers' opinion pieces, and engage with important local issues. Subscriptions open full access to our work and make it possible.