Message
from the Superintendent of Schools
April
6th COVID-19 Update re Extended School Closing through April 28th
Dear Freeport Families,
Governor Cuomo announced today that New York's statewide stay-at-home-order
will remain in effect until April 29 with schools and non-essential businesses closed.
This
extends our schools closure through April 28th.
Additionally, the Board
of Regents announced today the Regents exams will be canceled this year. They
will be providing further guidance for districts regarding the details of the
cancellation and we will be sharing more details as we learn more.
Our
Online E-Learning will continue until further notice.
Please make sure your child is completing their daily assignment including
staying connected with their teachers. With schools closed longer, it is very
important your child completes assignments. Check our website for E-Learning
and Online Resource Center updates. If
you have questions, please contact your building administration.
We will provide you with updates as they become
available. Visit our website at
www.freeportschools.org, download the Freeport Public Schools app and sign up
for push notifications. Remember to wash your hands and follow social
distancing. Please be safe and be healthy. Thank you.
Regards,
Kishore
Kuncham
Superintendent
of Schools
Message from the Superintendent of Schools
COVID-19 April 5th Update re School Closing
and Spring Recess
Dear Freeport Families,
We hope you are doing as well as possible as we continue to live
through the unprecedented times we are facing due to COVID-19. The Governor’s
order that has kept many of us from leaving our homes and closed our schools has
caused a major disruption in our normal way of life, but is necessary to keep
our families and communities safe and healthy. Freeport Schools has viewed this
not as a closure, but a transition. The well-being of our students, staff and
family are still our top priority even as we connect remotely. The Governor’s
Executive Order has our schools closed through April 14th, and we
have worked our hardest to sustain our children though our Online E-Learning,
mental health support, and Grab and Go meals.
As per Governor’s last Executive Order, we know that school
closures are extended through April 14th with plans to reevaluate at
that time. It is more than likely that schools will be ordered to remain closed
for a longer period of time. During our current period of closure, based on the
Executive Order, schools are required to continue online E-Learning and provide
meals for students even if the district is scheduled to be on Spring Recess. We
have sought clarification from the New York State Education Department (NYSED)
and the Governor’s Office. Guidance from NYSED has confirmed it is required
that our schools must remain open and providing online learning during this
time. Based on this, we will not be
having our planned Spring Recess period (April 9th – 17th) and our Online E-Learning
and Grab and Go Meal plan will continue Monday through Friday until further
notice.
I understand many of our students, families and staff will be
observing religious holidays during the period we were scheduled to be closed
for Spring Recess. The District respects the rights of those wishing to observe
their religious holidays even as we remain open online. While our schools will continue online
learning activities in compliance with the Governor’s order, assignments given
prior to April 9th will have flexible due dates to accommodate those
wishing to observe the religious holidays. Some staff members may not be
available during this period due to religious observance. Students may use April
9th and 10th to catch up on their work and focus on health and
wellness. Please see our website for Social Emotional Learning resources.
Our Grab and Go Meal Plan continues to
run Monday through Friday from 9:30 am – 12:00pm. You can choose to pick up at
either of our two locations: Freeport
High School and New Visions School.
An additional part of our continuity plan is the availability of
Emergency Child Care for qualifying families. Freeport Public Schools is
participating in
a countywide plan to provide child care through SCOPE at
locations throughout the county. The criteria for qualification for this
program are set by New York State. Information regarding eligibility and
registration can be found on both the district website on our COVID-19 Resource
Summary page or at the SCOPE website, https://www.scopeonline.us/scope-emergency-child-care/.
Furthermore, New York State has determined that school district
Board of Education elections and budget votes will be postponed until at least
June 1, 2020. Therefore, the vote scheduled for May 19, 2020, is postponed and
we will inform you when a new date has been set.
The expectation of Freeport Schools for excellence in education
remains the same. Our staff has risen to
the occasion, and has shown the same dedicated passion for delivering
high-quality instruction remotely, healthy meals for our children, and concern
and care for our students and families as they always have. Our teachers and
students have been outstanding in maintaining continuity of learning. I am awed
and grateful to our staff, students and families for their commitment to
working together at this truly difficult time. As we come together to do what
is the best for our safety and health, we continue to support you - our
families- in every way possible. Freeport has extraordinarily resilient,
determined, and talented students and staff—and nothing will ever change that.
The Board of Education and I wish you and your
families a peaceful, reflective time as you celebrate your religious holidays.
It will certainly not be the same without family and friends gatherings, but
please come together in spirit and hope for our future. We will provide you
with updates as they become available.
Visit our website at www.freeportschools.org,
download the Freeport Public Schools app and sign up for push notifications. Please
remember to wash your hands, follow social distancing, and be safe, healthy and
strong. Thank you.
Regards,
Kishore Kuncham
Superintendent of Schools