Dear Parents/Guardians,
I hope your summer is off to a great start and you are taking some well-deserved time to relax.
We are hard at work thinking through the challenges associated with our safe return to school and wanted to share some updates with you.
Thank you for your support
Thank you again for your support on our 2020-21 school budget vote. Next year’s spending plan was developed to keep the district in a financially stable position, despite the many economic unknowns and budget gaps facing schools across the state. We are so thankful for your continued confidence in our district and we cannot wait to welcome our students back to school, while fully preserving all programs and extracurriculars.
Reopening planning committee
While the school year has officially ended, our work continues! In May, members of district administration began meeting to plan for reopening school in the fall.
We have created a reopening planning committee and several advisory committees (facilities, instruction, health/safety, social-emotional learning, human resources, extra-curricular/athletics) that will continue to meet weekly throughout the summer to provide guidance and create a plan for fall. We are diligently working on our reopening plan, to be submitted to the state by July 31.
Our goal is to welcome students back in the fall, in-person for full-time instruction. Please note, we will be prepared and plan for a number of possible scenarios dependent on changing health recommendations.
Summer meals continue
Breakfast and lunch will continue to be available, free of charge, for students in need throughout the summer. Meals are delivered on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, with the next day’s (or days’) breakfast included. If your student plans on participating this summer and hasn’t previously, please email Josh Hodge at jhodge@queensburyschool.org.
Campus facilities are now open
The following campus facilities are open at this time:
- School and office buildings are open by appointment only. If you need to visit a school or office building, please call in advance to schedule an appointment.
- Tennis courts
- Track
- Campus trails
There are hand sanitizing stations at all three of these locations. Please remember to adhere to the rules that are posted and practice appropriate social distancing guidelines at all times.
Information from Governor Cuomo
On Wednesday, Governor Cuomo announced that guidance for schools to prepare their reopening plans would be available on Monday, July 13. Schools have until Friday, July 31 to submit their plans to the state for review. A decision on whether or not to reopen schools will be made by the governor the first week of August.
Summer vacations/out of state travel
Please pay attention to the hot spot states outlined by Governor Cuomo. The list continues to change as COVID-19 cases increase in many regions throughout the country. Please review the list on the governor’s website. All residents, including our students, would need to quarantine for 14 days if they travel to any of the states on the list. Please keep the beginning of the school year in mind as you plan your summer travel.
Future communication
Over the coming weeks, we will continue to update our families as we receive guidance and begin to finalize our plans. Please note, this continues to be a very fluid situation and things are likely to change over the coming weeks and months. We will update you as new information becomes available.
Thank you for your continued partnership. I am so proud to be a Spartan!
Sincerely,
Kyle L. Gannon
Superintendent of Schools