On July 9, the new Ken-Ton UFSD School Re-Opening Task Force met for the first time to establish the structures necessary to complete the work that is to come as we plan for the 2020-21 school year. This group is composed of district administrators and school building principals with several different teams and sub-committees focusing on a multitude of areas of school district operations. Guidance from the New York State Education Department is expected to be released by July 13, and school districts will be asked to submit reopening plans by July 31. We must prepare for three potential models:
- A return to school in September with full face-to-face attendance and precautions to ensure the health and safety of our students and staff
- A fully remote and virtual learning environment
- A blended model, combining elements of the two
New York State is expected to make a decision on school reopening the first week of August. Ultimately, our plan will need to adhere to local, state, and federal requirements, and the safety of our students and staff is paramount. I will keep our community informed as this process moves forward.
It is very important for the team to understand the needs of the community. In June, a total of 1,800 individuals from the Ken-Ton School District community took part in a regional survey coordinated by several area school district superintendents, which provided very helpful feedback. We are in the process of developing a comprehensive follow-up survey for our students, staff, and families, and expect to launch this survey in the coming week.