East Hampton High School students will have at least two more days of remote lessons this week, Monday and Tuesday, with administrators planning a return to in-person classes on Wednesday.
Sara Smith, the school principal, said in an email to families on Saturday that the decision was motivated by the number of cases among students and school employees.
As of Friday, the high school had logged 90 cases in one week, while the middle school and elementary school had 23 and 59 cases, respectively. That meant the new case count reached 172 — the bulk of the 240 cases districtwide since school started in September.
"Please understand that the last thing we ever want to do is pivot to remote learning; however, we must always put health and safety first," Ms. Smith wrote in her email.
On Monday and Tuesday, classes will be held via Google Meet on the same bell schedule. Only students who are sick with a confirmed Covid-19 case are excused from attendance. Sports and extracurricular activities will run in-person, as will both morning and afternoon BOCES programs. For students requiring meals, bagged breakfasts and lunches can be picked up between 8 and 10 a.m. at the high school cafeteria.