Alan Van Cott, Superintendent of Schools

                                                                                                            October 26, 2007

Dear Parents and Guardians:

I am sending this letter home today for children in grades K-5, while a letter for Middle School and High School students is being sent home by Mr. Robert Panariello, Islip’s Director of Health, Physical Education, and Athletics.

I am sure you are aware from recent newspaper articles as well as television reports that several cases of the MRSA staph infection have been found in both Nassau and Suffolk County school districts. I am pleased to inform you that as of this date, there have been no reported cases of the MRSA staph infection in the Islip School District.

Please be assured that we are taking every step possible to ensure the safety of all students and staff. This includes additional protocols when cleaning physical education equipment throughout the District, but especially in the Middle School and High School, where locker rooms and athletic equipment and facilities are used on an interscholastic level.

Additional information will be shared throughout the District as it becomes available to us. In the meantime, please feel free to access the following website: www.cdc.gov/Features/MRSAinSchools/ for detailed information regarding this serious health situation.

Thank you for your continued understanding and cooperation.

    Alan Van Cott
                      Superintendent of Schools