Coronavirus Update March 15, 2020

March 15, 2020

Dear Parents & Guardians,

The LaFayette Central School District continues to monitor and respond to the rapidly evolving developments in the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19).  We are working under the guidance and direction of the New York State Department of Health, the Onondaga County Health Department, the New York State Education Department, and the Onondaga County Executive’s orders to ensure the health and safety of all of our children, staff, parents and visitors to the LaFayette Central School District.

As per the order of the County Executive, students will be out of school beginning Monday, March 23, 2020. Our schools will officially close on Friday, March 20 at 4:00 p.m. following student dismissal.  Students are currently scheduled to return on Tuesday, April 14, 2020.  If there is a positive case of COVID-19 in Onondaga County, adjustments will be made to the schedule. 

This decision has not been taken lightly.  As shared by Governor Cuomo and County Executive McMahon schools are important places for students and families.  We have a moral obligation to make sure that our families have time to prepare for childcare and that students who depend on school meal programs are provided the support and nutrition they need.  Our District’s Leadership Team is working around the clock to make certain plans are in place to support our students and their families. 

Here are some important updates:

Student Attendance:

• We recognize that some of you may be uncomfortable sending your children to school.  Please know that we respect your right as parents to choose what is best for your child.  If you choose not to send your child to school while we remain open this week, your child will be considered excused from school.  Your child will not be penalized in any way for the excused absence(s).

• Please be certain to notify your student’s nurse’s/main office if your child is not going to attend while school is in session.

Health and Safety at School:

• Cleaning measures in our buildings and on our school buses have been enhanced and increased.

• We all must do our part in minimizing the spread of illness – we ask for your commitment in not sending your child to school while they are feeling ill.  Likewise, we are communicating the same message to our staff.  

• Each nurses’ office will work to ensure that ill students and staff are separated by at least six feet from those that are well.    

• The school nurse will place a mask on students or staff assessed to have signs of a respiratory illness, specifically cough and fever. The mask is an effective tool in minimizing the spread of any germs and does not imply that the person has any specific illness.

Cancellation of Extra-curricular and Athletic Events:

• As communicated yesterday, all of next week’s extra-curricular activities and events will be cancelled immediately. 

• By now, you may be aware that Section III Athletics has announced that effective Monday, March 16, 2020 all interscholastic athletics events will be suspended.  The official start date for all Spring sports will be April 14, 2020. The dates and structure of postseason competition will be determined at a later point in time.

Continuity of Instruction:

• We thank all of our staff for the dedication, teamwork and flexibility they have demonstrated when assessing our current resources, developing protocols for continued learning, and designing lessons that ensure continuity of instruction. This work will continue this week.

• You can expect further communication from your student’s building principal as to how teachers will communicate with students during the extended closure. 

Access to Technology:

• We will make every effort to provide technology devices to students who do not have access to personally owned devices for the purposes of instruction and learning. 

• In the case where a family does not have internet access, alternative methods of delivering instruction and feedback to students will be utilized. 

• Additional information will be provided regarding how devices will be made available in the communications that you receive from your building principal.

Special Education:

• Our special education teachers and service providers are working to develop ways of continuing specially designed instruction for those students that have individual education programs (IEPs). Teachers will be reaching out to you to provide further information in this area regarding meeting the individual learning needs of your student.

• District support staff (school counselors, psychologists) will be available to support students and families as needed throughout the extended school closure. 

We are committed to providing additional updates on a regular basis as circumstances warrant. Please check your email and our website, www.lafayetteschols.org, for updates, links, guidance and more.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have - jbelfield@lafayetteschools.org or 315-529-9550 (cell).

Sincerely,

 

Jeremy L. Belfield

Superintendent of Schools

LaFayette Central School District