Special School Closure Message
March 15, 2020
District Status
Cortland County declared a state of emergency at 4:00 PM on March 15, 2020. Health Department officials have advised that all schools in Cortland County close after the end of school on Tuesday, March 17th and remain closed through April 13th. The schools are being closed to reduce contact and slow the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. 

March 17th is a school day. That day, students will have the opportunity to collect personal and instructional materials, library books, musical instruments, and computers (if needed).

Parent pickup of their child’s medications should be arranged directly with the school nurse.

During this period email and the district website will be the main methods of communication. Contact the school with any email address corrections. To limit any potential transmission, we are restricting visitors, parents, vendors, and community members from school buildings. Please call the building with any requests and we will do our best to meet your needs. 

By being careful and by working together, we will get through this situation. In the words of one school superintendent: “When this is over it will be impossible to know if we overreacted or did too much. It will, however, be clear if we did too little.” 
Instruction During the Closure
During the time of closure, we will continue to provide instruction. A portal has been established on the district webpage where assignments are communicated. In some cases work will be done online and in other cases packets of printed work will be distributed from each of the food distribution sites. The portal and assignments will be available beginning Monday, March 23rd.  
Other School Services
School counselors, social workers, and other support services will be available on a scheduled basis during the closure. Specific schedules will be posted at the portal beginning March 23rd.
Continuity of Food Service
Breakfast and lunch will be available for every student, Monday through Friday. We are working with local agencies such as the Food Bank of CNY to coordinate and distribute other meals as well. Details will be communicated soon.
Sports, Trips & Travel
All sports, field trips, and gatherings are also suspended or postponed, at least through April 14th. Beyond that, we will review all field trips, travel, and large gatherings on an ongoing basis. The Superintendent will make any necessary decisions based on circumstances and notify the person responsible. Naturally, parents always have the ultimate decision about participation at an event. We are working with vendors to try to reduce the financial implications of cancellations or postponements.
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.