Please note: On Monday, April 6, in continued response to the spread of COVID-19, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that all schools in New York State will remain closed through Wednesday, April 29.
On Friday, March 27, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that he will extend his executive order directing the closure of schools across New York State to April 15.
On March 18, the governor mandated all schools to close for two weeks. Friday’s announcement continues the school closures another two weeks.
As the situation regarding the spread of COVID-19 continues to change, the governor said he will reassess whether to extend the closures again before students are set to return.
“We know these are challenging times for our families, employees and our communities, but we must do what we can to slow the spread of this virus,” HFM BOCES District Superintendent David Ziskin said. “Our local school districts are encouraging everyone to avoid close contact during this time and stay home whenever possible.”
The extended order applies to all school districts in the state, including those in the HFM region.
During the past two weeks, districts in the HFM region have been working to provide at-home learning resources for students. Teachers have been communicating with students in a variety of ways such as providing material on district websites, using Google Classroom and other software, and mailing work directly to families.
HFM school districts have also been providing thousands of to-go meals per day to families and in some cases providing delivery services.
“Our local school districts have been working together to ensure our families get what they need during this crisis,” Ziskin said. “School districts will continue to provide these essential services while classes are canceled. I encourage those in need of assistance to reach out to your local school district for help.”
Most school districts in the HFM region were scheduled to go on Spring Break from April 10 to April 17. The latest Executive order clearly states that there will be no regular classes until April 15. There is, however, new language in this order regarding exhausting vacation and snow days. HFM districts will await further guidance from New York State before making a determination regarding Spring Break plans. More information is expected early next week.
Due to the cancellation of classes, the New York State Board of Regents and the state Education Department announced on March 20 that the elementary- and intermediate-level state assessments for Grades 3-8 have been suspended for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year.
The College Board, which administers Advanced Placement (AP) exams nationwide, has also announced that it will conduct online exams for the 2019-20 school year. The exam content will only cover material taught through early March.
