Dear Families,
In conjunction with superintendents in the Questar III BOCES region, Averill Park Central School District has decided to cancel all classes effective Tuesday, March 17 until Friday, March 27 out of an abundance of caution.
Students and staff should report to school on Monday, March 16. Only staff will report on Tuesday, March 17. This schedule provides our faculty with more time to prepare instructional materials and resources to assist with this long-term closure. It also allows our students to clean out their lockers and bring home their belongings, including digital devices, instruments and other items.
Although Rensselaer County does not have any confirmed cases at this time, we are seeking to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and to ease public anxiety about schools being in session during this public health crisis.
Our school district will continue to monitor guidance from local, state and federal agencies to reassess and reevaluate whether we may need to extend our closing if conditions worsen.
We understand that this is an inconvenience for our families, but our primary concern is the health and safety of our students and staff. Ultimately, we wanted to be thoughtful about planning and not make a sudden decision that does not allow our families and staff to prepare for what could be a more extended closing.
Our school district is committed to providing educational resources for our students during this time, but we also realize that you cannot replicate the school day for your child. The focus of our instruction will be to provide self-guided and parent-guided resources. We will also seek to maintain our student, teacher and family relationships as much as possible through social distancing and digital means.
We are working on a plan to provide meals to students. Details regarding pick-up logistics and eligibility will be shared directly with participating families when those details become available.
Thank you for your continued patience and support as we work together through this unprecedented situation. Looking ahead, we anticipate that there will be many questions. We will continue to follow guidance from our health and education departments and will provide additional information as soon as possible. Please continue to follow the CDC’s recommendations – including thorough handwashing, social distancing and avoiding large groups and those who are ill – to stay safe and healthy.