In-person learning is back on for some Staten Island schools in the state-imposed COVID-19 orange zone.

Students in District 1-32 schools in 3-K, pre-K and kindergarten through fifth grades enrolled in blended learning returned to the classroom Wednesday.

New testing protocols are in place that require students to present consent forms. This includes randomized weekly and monthly testing. 

Staff and students will have increased symptom and exposure screenings. 

Teachers at P.S. 23 in Richmondtown told NY1 they were excited to be back.

“I’m thrilled to go back. The kids need us back in there,” said Lidia Grassullo, a third grade teacher. “We feel very safe in school. Our windows are open, we’re getting air through the room, kids are separated, they’re amazing. We’re ready.”

Future closures will be based on positive COVID-19 rates within specific schools, not citywide.

On Monday, city schools reopened for early education students that weren’t in designated orange zones. This came after a two-week school shutdown where the city reevaluated its standards for closing.

The mayor had previosuly set a 3% positivity rate (based on a seven-day rolling average) as the threshold for shutting all public schools. The city will now model its approach to school closures based off the city and state’s color-coded zones. It has also revamped testing and increased capacity in its “situation room,” which will help monitor schools more precisely on an individual basis.