Letter to the Community

6/11/21

Dear Parents and Community Members:

The 2020-2021 school year has been unlike any year before.  We began the year with a hybrid model where students in UPK-5th grade attended in-person learning daily and grades 6-12 attended the high school building with a 2 day in-person, 3 day virtual hybrid. This allowed us to properly socially distance 6 feet apart and operate in cohorts, minimizing the number of people students are exposed to.  Students who attend OCM BOCES classes or out of district special education programs attended those programs Monday-Friday in-person.  Students in 6th-12th grade that required special education services or ELL services were given the option to be in-person 4 days a week.

The district is continually reviewing attendance and class failure data.  Based on information gathered in the first portion of the year, students in grades 9-12 were brought back for an additional in-person day (Fridays) beginning January 8th. Mid February, the district was able to bring grades 6, 7 and 8 back one more day, giving all students in 6-12 three days of in-person learning.

Parents were initially given the opportunity to choose the mode of learning for their child during this pandemic. Parents that chose to have their children learn remotely, committed to doing so for the first semester of the 2020-2021 school year.   Students who moved into the district were given the choice of in-person or remote learning as long as there is enough space in a classroom to adhere to our social distancing requirements. Parents were also given the choice to have their children ride the school bus.  Parents who opted to bring their children to school made that commitment for the first 10 weeks of school.  Students were allowed one pick up and one drop off point for bus transportation to ensure that the district is able to properly socially distance students. Parents were again given the choice to use district transportation at 20 weeks.  Parents could request a change in learning mode or transportation mode by submitting a written appeal.

Throughout the year, all Students are required to wear masks if they attend in-person learning and when riding the school bus.  Mask breaks are given in school when students are socially distanced and in a quiet setting or when eating at teacher discretion. Students pre-screened using the rSchool Today health screening app or the paper health screen prior to coming to school each day.  Students that have a temperature above 100.0 degree fahrenheit or are exhibiting any COVID-19 symptoms must stay home. Students who exhibit those symptoms can return back to school with either a doctor's note, a negative COVID test or the completion of a quarantine.

On April 5th, the district moved from a hybrid model to a full in-person model with heightened health and safety protocols.  Parents have the option to send their child to school five days a week for in-person learning or to have their child learn remotely. The district is encouraging all students to return to in-person learning at this time. Buses have been, and continue to be rerouted to accommodate student ridership. Parents can appeal to move their child from in-person learning to remote learning or vice versa. With creative use of classroom and large area spaces, students are socially distanced 6 feet apart.

On June 9th, mask requirements were altered by the NYS Department of Health, allowing students to remove masks when outside.  Mask requirements continued for students, staff and visitors when in the school buildings on the school buses.

Our plan continues to focus on student and staff safety, student engagement and the social emotional health of our school community.  Safety measures focus on hand hygiene, social distancing, respiratory hygiene (including the wearing of masks) and cleaning.  Student engagement includes methods of instruction/common learning platforms to promote student learning. Social-emotional health includes frequent check-ins with students/families and training for staff and students.

Our reopening plan incorporates recommendations and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) and the New York State Education Department (NYSED). It includes all district assurances to NYSED  as well as the elements outlined in the New York State Department of Education and Department of Health guidance documents.

We are excited to have our students back in school five days a week with the hope of getting back to “normal” soon.  Until that happens, we are ready to educate your children and continue to be Marathon Strong.

Thank you for all you do to work with our school community.

Sincerely,

Rebecca Stone
Superintendent of Schools