Special Message for Cortland Community
March 31, 2020
Distance Learning Continues
Through "Spring Break"

The District has been advised that we are expected to provide continuity of learning (distance learning) and the distribution of meals through at least April 14th, 2020, including what was previously designated as our Spring Break. The State Education Department has communicated this message:

“Districts must continue to provide remote instruction for students and meals for students every weekday between April 1, 2020 and April 14, 2020, even if the district is scheduled to be on spring break during that time.”

Therefore, our staff will continue to provide and support students with distance learning during our scheduled “Spring Break.” The Governor’s Office believes, and we agree, that consistency for our students with regard to instruction and food is a priority and should continue.

Distance learning will continue as it has been. The Distance Learning Portal will function as the primary communication hub. 

If the teacher team is sending home additional printed materials, these will be delivered by school bus beginning on Friday, April 3rd. Materials will be left at each address in the familiar manilla envelopes that are labeled with the student's name.

We are proud of and impressed by the work being done by students, faculty, staff, and families at home. Thank you! Spring is upon us! Please be sure to tend to your individual and family health and wellness while you maintain the appropriate social distance. As weather permits, build in time to take a walk, sit outside in the sunshine, and maintain a healthy level of activity. 
Collection of Work That Was Done
Via Distance Learning
Many teachers are collecting work and providing feedback via Google Classroom. Those materials are already being collected online. This will continue. In other cases, students have completed their work on paper. 

Thanks to the Cortland Standard , the collection of printed work materials will occur via their previously retired newspaper vending boxes. At the front door of each school, we will soon have a Cortland Standard newspaper vending box where work can be returned Monday through Friday. We will also station a newspaper vending box at the food distribution sites at Penguin Trailer Park and Rickard Street Apartments. Work that needs to be returned can be left in any of those newspaper vending boxes (returned in the original, labeled envelope, please, so we can route the materials back to the teachers). We will empty the boxes each day at approximately 1p. We ask everyone to respect the boxes and to respect the work that is left inside. We plan to have these in place no later than Monday, April 6th. Thanks, Cortland Standard , for your help!
Technology Help
Technology support for district devices and distance learning is available by sending an email to helpdesk@cortlandschools.org or by calling 607-758-4188. You can expect someone to return your message from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Food Service Continues Through "Spring Break"
Breakfast and lunch will be available for every student, Monday through Friday, at locations across the community from 11 a.m. to 1p.m. Locations include:
  • Barry Primary bus loop
  • Junior Senior High School bus loop
  • Randall Middle bus loop
  • Smith Intermediate bus loop
  • Virgil School bus loop
  • Additional sites added: 
  • Parker School (parent drop-off area)
  • Penguin Trailer Park (11a - noon only)
  • Rickard Street Apartments (11a - noon only)
District COVID-19 Webpage
We encourage everyone to frequently visit the special COVID-19 web page where we are collecting information for our educational community. There you will find up-to-date information as well as links to other resources.