Dear Roslyn families,
As I have explained in my earlier messages, the Governor's most recent guidelines for reopening school have laid out parameters which will determine exactly how we will begin the new school year:
* Roslyn is part of the Long Island Region, which is currently in Phase 4 of reopening.
* The rate of infection on Long Island is currently below 5 percent on a 14-day average.
* If the above holds true through the first week in August, it is expected the Governor
will allow schools to reopen.
Attached are general descriptions of the three models for reopening - in-person, remote learning, and hybrid - on the elementary and secondary level (see links below). Currently, in order to meet Department of Health and State Education Department guidelines, we are looking to open in September with a hybrid model. You will note on the attachments that, on the elementary level, there is little difference between the hybrid model and the in-person model, as we are able to reconfigure our elementary schools to accommodate all of our current children every day. On the secondary level, however, where programs and schedules are more complicated, there are significant differences between the hybrid and in-person models.
We are eager to elaborate on these models with you, in particular the hybrid model, so that you can be fully prepared and can plan accordingly. You will be notified soon about virtual meetings that will be hosted by our Parent-Faculty Associations over the next few weeks, where I will be presenting much more detailed information about these plans and answering your questions. The PFA's will hold additional meetings and online forums to gather feedback and questions from parents.
As I must remind everyone, all decisions are subject to change, depending upon factors and people beyond our control, and the district may need to shift its plans on short notice to one of the other two models, either all remote or all in-person. It appears that this need for flexibility will remain essential throughout the school year. I know that sudden changes in direction will be disruptive but may be unavoidable. We are committed to ensuring that any and all changes are communicated promptly and articulated clearly.
From my many communications with parents, it is clear that some of you remain concerned about sending your children to school this fall, even with the protocols and modifications that we are putting in place. We may possibly be able to offer parents the option to have their children continue a full remote schedule for the entire 2020-21 school year, but this will depend upon the level of demand. It is critical that we know very soon how many families may be interested in such an option. Therefore, we will be sending a form very soon for you to fill out if you prefer all-remote learning. Right now, we cannot make a commitment to providing this service without knowing how many students we may need to accommodate.
Please note that New York State MUST approve our submitted plan prior to its implementation. I hope to be able to address most of your questions and concerns during our upcoming virtual meetings. In the meantime, the administrative staff is in district and available to assist you.
