In continuing our policy of providing you with up-to-date information regarding the reopening of schools in the fall, we wanted to give our community an update.
Today, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that a state formula will determine how districts will reopen. Schools will reopen if the region in which they reside is in Phase IV and the daily infection rate remains 5 percent or lower using a 14-day average. This decision will be made by the state during the first week of August.
School buildings will close if the regional infection rate is greater than 9 percent using a 7-day average after August 1.
Also today, the New York State Education Department presented educational health and safety guidelines to the Board of Regents regarding the reopening of schools.
Based on this information, school districts must create a comprehensive plan for a schedule that includes in-person instruction, remote instruction, and hybrid instruction. Districts must submit their reopening plans to the state by July 31.
Stakeholders of the Averill Park Central School District have created five committees which have been meeting to develop plans for reopening in the fall and will continue to do so throughout this month. We also solicited the community for feedback regarding the reopening via an online survey. All of this information will be used as we move forward and prepare for September.
Our top priority continues to be the health and safety of our students and staff. We will keep you updated on this topic as new information becomes available.