Island Park Schools' fields, playgrounds closed on weeknights

Island Park School District officials have restricted public access to the playground and athletic fields at its two schools — Francis X. Hegarty Elementary School and Lincoln Orens Middle School — on weekdays after 5:30 p.m. due to Covid-19 and vandalism concerns.

District officials also closed the outdoor play areas last weekend “to err on the side of caution,” Superintendent Vincent Randazzo wrote in a letter to the community on Oct. 27.

The decision came after teenagers gathered at the playgrounds in large groups and damaged the property. Over the weekend of Oct. 24-25, the surface area mat beneath the playground set at Hegarty Elementary was “littered, vandalized and damaged,” Randazzo’s letter stated.

Security footage obtained by the district showed a large number of teens gathered after dusk who were not following posted Covid-19 protocols, including social distancing and mask wearing. They caused nearly $2,000 worth of damage, according to Board of Education President Jack Vobis. As of last week, the Board of Education was discussing whether to open the areas on the weekends going forward.

“The schools have to comply with the Covid rules,” Vobis said. “It’s our responsibility to make sure anyone using the school playground complies. We want to make sure that whatever happens after hours doesn’t impact the ability of everyone to physically come to school.”

Vobis noted that the two district schools planned to switch from a hybrid learning model to an all-in-person model this month, and would not want to jeopardize school safety because of the misuse of school property. The vandalism was just another reason to close at night for now, Vobis said.

“We feel like this will be a way to reset it,” he said. “The board is already looking at options to go forward and open on future weekends and increase hours as long as these events don’t continue to occur.”

In early October, a Hegarty student tested positive for Covid-19. The student’s parents notified the district on Oct. 5, and Randazzo sent a letter informing the community that day. The student had not been in the school building since Oct. 2, after which the entire building was disinfected.

The district reported the case to the Nassau County Department of Health, and followed its recommendation that the school remain open. “The Department of Health has not advised the district to take any additional precautionary measures at this time,” Randazzo wrote in the Oct. 5 letter.

The student and the student’s family quarantined at home, and the student was not permitted to return to school until clearance was given based on Covid-19 guidelines. In addition, the health department began contact tracing in order to notify anyone who may have had contact with the student.

On Oct. 29, Randazzo announced that a staff member at Lincoln Orens had tested positive. The staff member was most recently in the school building on Oct. 27, and the county health department was notified.

All areas of the building are disinfected routinely over the course of the school day, and thoroughly disinfected again at night, including restrooms and all frequently touched areas. Based on a recommendation from the health department, Lincoln Orens remained open for instruction. The staff member and any close contacts identified by the health department will quarantine at home, and contact tracing had begun. The staff member will not be allowed to return to school until he or she is cleared to do so, according to applicable federal, state and local guidelines.

Randazzo reminded parents to monitor themselves and their children closely for any Covid-19 symptoms. If a child is exhibiting any symptoms, parents are to note them on the online daily health screening, keep the child home from school, contact the child’s medical provider and seek medical care.

“The health and safety of our students and staff is our foremost priority,” Randazzo said. “This is a good time to remind everyone to stay vigilant to keep our community safe.”