November 18, 2020
Dear Spackenkill Community,
Much has changed since last week. Based on our meeting today with the Dutchess County Department of Behavioral and Community Health (DBCH) and County Executive Marc Molinaro, there is a rapid rate of growth of COVID-19 cases in many of our surrounding counties. According to Dutchess County statistics, there were 270 confirmed cases countywide when we started the school year in September. That number climbed to 400 in October, then again in November, with 600 right now and counting, plus a projected spike of cases to follow holiday travel and gatherings.
As the cases increase, so does the likelihood that our schools (and schools throughout the county and/or state) will need to operate on a full remote schedule. Recently, many area districts, including ours, have had schools pause in-person instruction. Positive cases are obviously a concern for the health and safety of all involved. However, it is not solely the number of people who test positive that would cause us to implement a full remote schedule. Additionally, it is the ripple effect of students and staff being exposed to that person and having to quarantine for 14 days, causing significant disruption in both our family and school communities.
Our initial plan was to send the Elementary and Secondary Instruction Choice Form this week, with a shift to the new instructional model planned to go into effect on Monday, November 30th, or soon thereafter, pending Board approval. However, in response to the meeting we had today with the DBCH/County Executive, significant increases in COVID-19 cases in our area, and our concern that we may need to move to a full remote schedule in the not-so-distant-future, we believe it prudent and reasonable to retain our current hybrid schedule for the time being.
There are myriad reasons to not change at this time, the most important one being the safety of our students, staff, and community. Please contact your building principal directly if your intent was to change your child’s instructional model on November 30th. Keep in mind that any type of model switch at this time at the elementary level will almost certainly require a change in your child's teacher. When this COVID wave passes, we can reassess and move forward with our in-school learning plan.
On November 24th, the Board will still discuss and possibly approve our newly developed hybrid plans. However, these plans will not be implemented until COVID activity diminishes. The good news is that we will be well prepared with plans that will give us more in-person time once it is safe to do so. The Return to School Committee will meet this Thursday to further discuss next steps.
The meeting today with the DBCH and County Executive Marc Molinaro also discussed the importance of following protocols during holiday time in order to limit casual transmissions of COVID. It is the casual transmissions that are hard to track that lead to outbreaks. Please be careful during our upcoming breaks and follow New York State guidelines for travel and gatherings.
Thank you for your patience as we navigate these ever-evolving times.
Sincerely,
Paul M. Fanuele, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools