Dear Lyndonville Families and Community,
By now, hopefully you have been following the news regarding re-opening plans for schools in New York State. There has been extensive coverage on local media and news outlets.
We have received re-opening guidelines from the New York State Department of Health, and those may be found here:
These guidelines include both mandated and recommended practices for schools.
Later today, we expect the State Education Department to release their document, which I expect will mirror the Health Department document.
Thank you for the great response to our Re-Opening Survey. We have received over 500 responses, and the survey will close today, July 16. Please complete it (click on the link above) if you have not already done so. The survey results will be valuable to our Re-Opening Committee, which will be having their first meeting on Monday, July 20th. These meetings are not open to the public, but regular updates will be provided. There were many questions posed by respondents in the survey, many of which will be answered via the re-opening plans and regulations from New York State. We have staff, student, and parent representation on the committee.
As a highlight, many survey respondents wanted to know what is required by the State for re-opening. I would refer you to the first link in this article for detailed information regarding health screenings, masks, social distancing, etc.
School districts are required to submit re-opening plans by July 31 for State Education Department approval, and are required to post the approved plans on our website.
Districts are being asked to plan for in-person instruction, remote instruction, and hybrid (remote and in-person instruction). However, the guidance, and the initial survey results from our community, clearly indicate full in-person instruction is the preferred mode, if it is safe do so with the approved re-opening plans.
We have not had students gracing our hallways, classrooms, cafeteria, stage, and fields with their smiles, laughter, and enthusiasm since March 13, 2020! My hope is that we are able to return to school safely. If our regional infection rate stays below 5%, we will likely be given authorization to return to in-person instruction, while adhering to our approved re-opening plan.
I hope you are continuing to enjoy this quieter than normal summer, and are taking care of yourselves and your loved ones.
Jason Smith, Superintendent of Schools
585-765-3101 (phone)
Jasmith@lcsdk12.org