Serving Great Neck, G.N. Plaza, G.N. Estates, Kensington, Kings Point, Lake Success, Russell Gardens, Saddle Rock and Thomaston
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Friday, September 25, 2020
Vol. 95, No. 39
GUIDE TO FALL
TOKU’S LIQUOR LICENSE SUSPENDED
RUTH BADER GINSBURG MOURNED IN NASSAU
PAGES 25-40
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PAGE 6
JFK student tests positive for COVID-19
PICTURE PURR-FECT
First confirmed case of virus in district; class sent home for 2 weeks BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z A student at John F. Kennedy Elementary School tested positive for the coronavirus, the first known case in the Great Neck school district, officials announced on Friday. Information about the student cannot be released due to privacy laws, according to a statement from district Superintendent Teresa Prendergast. Individuals who were not directly notified of the confirmed case can conclude that they or their child was not in close contact with the infected student, Prendergast said. “In accordance with our District protocol at the elementary level, the teacher and students in class with the infected individual have transitioned to remote instruction for a period of 14 calendar days,” Prendergast said. Families of the classmates of the infected student were directly
contacted, but all other classes at the school continued with in-person instruction, according to Prendergast. Officials said the infected student had “very limited interaction” with students and staff members at the school. Prendergast touted the cleanliness of the school buildings throughout the district and said each one is cleaned and disinfected every evening, with extra sanitizing of the classrooms, hallways and bathrooms taking place Friday morning. “It’s important to remember that the health and safety protocols in place in all our buildings — including wearing masks, washing hands, social distancing, and daily cleaning/sanitizing of facilities — were intentionally designed to mitigate the risk to students and staff in the event a positive case was identified,” Prendergast said. Continued on Page 63
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NASSAU COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
Officials from the Nassau County Police Department rescued a kitten from underneath a Russell Gardens home on Saturday. See story on page 4.
No anti-Asian incidents at school: Prendergast BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z
Teresa Prendergast said no incidents had occurred on school In response to a letter sent grounds. The letter, signed by nearly by parent leaders saying racist anti-Asian remarks and inci- 40 parent leaders in the school dents have occurred in Great district, said younger Asian Neck, School Superintendent students were asked if they
eat bats and were called “COVID-19 spreaders” by other students. The letter said the racial slurs and hateful comments have been directed primarily at “young, defenseless children Continued on Page 63
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