Following is a message from CCSD Superintendent Thomas Colabufo concerning the decision to add remote learning if another snow day is needed within the district:
March 2, 2023
Dear Parents/Guardians:
After the last emergency/snow day on February 28, 2023, the District has used all five of our allotted emergency/snow days for this school year.
I have had several staff members and parents inquire if there is anything that the District could do if we had to call another emergency/snow day so we would not have to change one of our students’ spring break vacation days to a day in session to be in compliance with the New York State Education Department’s
180-day requirement.
As it currently stands, if we were to call another emergency/snow day, then there would be school on Monday, April 3, 2023, which would have been the first day of spring break for our students.
After several weeks of looking into possible options to prevent having to reduce our students’ valuable spring break time with their families, we have decided to utilize the remote learning option in the event we have to call another emergency/snow day.
In order to be in compliance with the NYS Education Department when utilizing the remote learning option, we will be having all of our students bring home their Chromebooks daily so they will have
access to an electronic device in the event that we had to call a snow day or if something specific happened regarding their school building, such as a water main break or any other safety issue that would require us to
cancel school for a particular school building.
Since UPK is not a compulsory grade level according to the State,
rather than send the Chromebooks home every day with these very young children, the UPK teachers are putting together a packet of engaging activities that the UPK students can work on during the emergency/snow day.
Our teachers have been directed to put a Zoom or Google Meet link on their Canvas pages as well as the half-day schedule that we currently use on half days. This way, we will be in compliance with the State Education Department’s requirement for direct instruction while also being in compliance with the 180 instructional day requirement that all New York State school districts must follow.
If any student or parent wants to contact their child’s counselor, social worker, school psychologist, principal, or any other related staff member, you can email them, and they will contact you in a timely manner. Your child’s teacher will also be available until the end of their
normal workday should you need to contact them as well.
In the feedback that we have received from parents and students, this appears to be the best option for us to take in the event that we have to call additional emergency/snow days this year. Now more than ever, we recognize the importance of family time during these vacations, as a result of the disruption that the COVID pandemic had already
put on our families in previous school years.
By utilizing this remote option for any further potential emergency/
snow days, we will be able to preserve our students’ valuable vacation time with their families. Our students will start bringing home their Chromebooks today.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me or your child’s principal at any time.
Sincerely,
Thomas J. Colabufo
Superintendent
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