March 15, 2020
From A March 14th Posting on the Canaseraga School Website:
Dear Parents / Guardians
At 1:00pm today, the Steuben County Manager, Jack Wheeler, announced that Steuben County is declaring a state of emergency in response to COVID-19. They will be directing schools to dismiss students from March 18, 2020, through the end of April break. Chemung County will also be announcing the same declaration in a simultaneous press release. These two actions will effectively cover our GST BOCES region.
I had an emergency meeting with the board of education this morning to discuss the district’s response and path forward. The following is information we reviewed. Some pieces have been laid out right now, but I imagine there will be more questions as we proceed. Please review the information provided below.
What is the immediate plan?
Monday, March 16
o STUDENTS WILL NOT BE IN ATTENDANCE at the Canaseraga Building
o Any students attending special education programs at Arkport CSD will not be attending due to their scheduled conference day.
o Wildwood Vocational students and any BOCES special program students will be able to attend their programs. This will be the last day of attendance prior to the student dismissal.
o Genesee Valley Vocational students are able to attend – at this time – as we have had no communication they won’t be open.
o This day will be converted into our conference day instead of holding the conference day on 03/20.
o The primary effort for Monday will be to have teachers and staff prepare for an extended student dismissal.
4 – 8 Main Street PO Box 230
Canaseraga, NY 14822-0230
P: 607-545-6421 F: 607-545-6265
www.ccsdny.org
Tuesday, March 17
o Students will be in attendance at the Canaserag Building
o Any students attending special education programs at Arkport CSD will be in attendance
o Wildwood Vocational students and any BOCES special program students will NOT be able to attend their programs as all GST BOCES programs will be closed as of Tuesday.
o Genesee Valley Vocational students are able to attend – at this time – as we have had no communication they won’t be open.
o Canaseraga teachers will provide students with review work to take home.
o Students should take home personal items.
If you have particular questions relative to your child’s particular academic program that might be off our school campus, please don’t hesitate to email me: cgroff@ccsdny.org
Wednesday, March 18
o This will be the first day of the extended student dismissal.
Why are multiple counties – including in our region – declaring a state of emergency regarding COVID-19?
The attempt is to “flatten the curve.”
This approach allows the healthcare system to be able to manage the capacity of the outbreak.
4 – 8 Main Street PO Box 230
Canaseraga, NY 14822-0230
P: 607-545-6421 F: 607-545-6265
www.ccsdny.org
Why should Canaseraga follow the guidance of Steuben County and not wait for Allegany County to make a similar declaration?
Although a majority of our school district lies within Allegany, we do have some properties that lie within Steuben.
We have students attending numerous instructional and special education programs on our BOCES campus and on school campuses within Steuben County. These campuses will be closed – thus closing the instructional programs of these students.
While Allegany County has not made the decision to call for student dismissals, the actions of other counties and regions across the state will likely lead to a similar declaration.
Will meals for breakfast and lunch be available for students during the extended student dismissal?
We anticipate the implementation of a feeding program to be able to provide meals for students during the extended break.
Due to logistics, we will not be doing this from Wednesday through Friday of this coming week. We need to make preparations with our food service and develop a plan for production and distribution of the meals.
The district will follow-up with a phone blast and additional information being posted for parents with the details as they are made available.
We will likely ask parents to notify the district if you want meals delivered for your children. Please do not call at this time, but wait for further direction.
Please bear with us as we travel this very unchartered territory in public education while we try to manage the impact on our students and staff from COVID-19.
In summary, we will be following the emergency declarations that are impacting our GST BOCES region that will result in student dismissals from school beginning on Wednesday, March 18, 2020, and lasting through April break. There will be continued monitoring of COVID-19 between now and April break. As we receive updated information will be make every effort to communicate the latest.
Chad C. Groff
Chad C. Groff
Superintendent of Schools
