Webutuck stays informed about COVID-19 vaccines and closings

WEBUTUCK — After absorbing the latest reports from the North East (Webutuck) Central School District, its Board of Education (BOE) assessed where the district stands in regard to school closings and the COVID-19 vaccine at a meeting on Monday evening, Jan. 25.

Based on recent conversations with the Dutchess County Department of Health (DOH), Superintendent of Schools Raymond Castellani said the DOH has moved past the idea of a COVID-19 testing program in school districts and is instead moving toward a vaccination program. He explained Webutuck was hoping the DOH and Governor Andrew Cuomo would allow school sites to be centers for vaccine distribution “so we can get our people vaccinated quickly.” 

However, as the district quickly learned during the last few weeks, there have been concerns that New York State has had trouble with its rollout plan for vaccinations, leaving counties overburdened and many residents who are eligible for vaccines scrambling to find distribution sites while the admittedly inadequate vaccine supply is available. 

In essence, Castellani said that, based on the discussions Webutuck has had with the DOH and the county, the state government is “woefully unprepared” and doesn’t have nearly enough vaccinations to distribute, though Webutuck is hoping the change of administration at the federal level will lead to vaccinations becoming more readily available. President Biden’s announcement last week that he plans to purchase 200 million doses of the vaccines for Americans offers hope that more shots will be on their way in 2021.

When asked by BOE members at the Jan. 25 meeting whether the state has addressed the issue of people who haven’t been vaccinated coming into the school buildings, Castellani said it hasn’t yet been addressed and while they can’t force people to get vaccinated, it’s highly recommended that they do. 

Though the superintendent said he didn’t know what or how it can mandate in terms of vaccinations, he said that if and when Webutuck gets to a point where the district finds out that a certain number of people are choosing not to get vaccinated, it will have to work with the unions to find a solution that’s fair for all.

“We have to respect people’s rights, but by the same token, we have to have our buildings safe,” Castellani said.

However, he said the district has not crossed that bridge yet as it is already having trouble getting the people who want the vaccine to get the shot in their arm.

With Webutuck currently closed, Castellani said he’s been having conversations with his fellow superintendents in larger school districts throughout the county that have closed their school buildings to conduct contact tracing. Though he noted that Webutuck would be in the same boat if it was a larger school district, he attributed Webutuck’s decision to close to the fact that the district is located on one campus “on the same street” and with students riding “the same buses.” With more people coming into contact with one another, the contact tracing becomes vast, Castellani said.

“It is never an easy decision,” he continued. “It’s painstaking. Sometimes Robert is contact tracing with the principals upwards of 30, 40 people, and that takes more than one day.”

While discussing contact tracing, Farrier said it would be helpful for anyone in the Webutuck community who has changed their phone number to provide the district with their most current contact information so the district can update its system. To do so, call the Webutuck business office at 845-373-4100.

Latest News

A scenic 32-mile loop through Litchfield County

Whenever I need to get a quick but scenic bicycle ride but don’t have time to organize a group ride that involves driving to a meeting point, I just turn right out of my driveway. That begins a 32-mile loop through some of the prettiest scenery in northern Litchfield County.

I ride south on Undermountain Road (Route 41 South) into Salisbury and turn right on Main Street (Route 44 West). If I’m meeting friends, we gather at the parking area on the west side of Salisbury Town Hall where parking is never a problem.

Keep ReadingShow less
Biking Ancramdale to Copake

This is a lovely ride that loops from Ancramdale north to Copake and back. At just over 23 miles and about 1,300 feet of elevation gain, it’s a perfect route for intermediate recreational riders and takes about two hours to complete. It’s entirely on quiet roads with little traffic, winding through rolling hills, open countryside, picturesque farms and several lakes.

Along the way, you’ll pass a couple of farmstands that are worth a quick visit. There is only one hill that might be described as steep, but it is quite short — probably less than a quarter-mile.

Keep ReadingShow less
Taking on Tanglewood

Aerial view of The Shed at Tanglewood in Lenox, Mass.

Provided

Now is the perfect time to plan ahead for symphonic music this summer at Tanglewood in Lenox, Massachusetts. Here are a few highlights from the classical programming.

Saturday, July 5: Shed Opening Night at 8 p.m. Andris Nelsons conducts the Boston Symphony Orchestra as Daniil Trifonov plays piano in an All-Rachmaninoff program. The Piano Concerto No. 3 was completed in 1909 and was written specifically to be debuted in the composer’s American tour, at another time of unrest and upheaval in Russia. Trifonev is well-equipped to take on what is considered among the most technically difficult piano pieces. This program also includes Symphonic Dances, a work encapsulating many ideas and much nostalgia.

Keep ReadingShow less
James H. Fox

SHARON — James H. Fox, resident of Sharon, passed away on May 30, 2025, at Vassar Brothers Hospital.

Born in New York, New York, to Herbert Fox and Margaret Moser, James grew up in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York. He spent his summers in Gaylordsville, Connecticut, where he developed a deep connection to the community.

Keep ReadingShow less