Parents/Guardians - If your BSCSD child tests positive for COVID-19, please notify us as soon as possible at COVIDreport@bscsd.org

***

THIS PAGE IS BEING UPDATED TO REFLECT THE CHANGES TO MASKING REQUIREMENTS IN SCHOOLS. EFFECTIVE WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2022, MASKS ARE NO LONGER REQUIRED IN SCHOOLS OR ON BUSES, BUT INDIVIDUALS MAY STILL CHOOSE TO WEAR ONE.

_FAQ on Changes to NYS Mask Mandate effective March 2, 2022 - 030122

Reopening Plan Framework Update (January 19, 2022)
The most recent update of the reopening plan is posted HERE.


Reopening Plan Framework UPDATE (November 21, 2021)
The November update of the reopening plan is posted HERE.

***

October 29, 2021 Update
The October 29 update provides the latest information on plans for Snow Days, Bus Driver Shortage Days, Minimizing Student Quarantining, Vaccination Availability for 5-11 Year Old Students, Emergency Release Day Scotties Closet and Employment Opportunities at BSCSD.

***

Reopening Plan Framework UPDATE (September 15, 2021)
The September update was presented at the Board of Education Meeting on September 15th and is posted HERE.

***

Coping with COVID-19 (September 10, 2021)
Information about the Saratoga County Public Health Services Quarantining Processes and New York State Vaccination Resources has been added to the Coping with COVID-19 webpage HERE.  Please also see the latest Message from the Superintendent for an update on current COVID-19 protocols and numbers - click HERE.

***

On Friday, August 27, 2021 the NYS Department of Health issued the following order:

Effective immediately, in accordance with the Commissioner's Determination issued pursuant to 10 NYCRR 2.60, any person over the age of 2 (including all students, personnel, teachers, administrators, contractors, and visitors) must wear masks at all times indoors in P-12 school buildings, regardless of vaccination status. People with medical or developmental conditions that prevent them from wearing a mask may be exempted from mask requirements, as documented by a medical provider. People do not need to wear masks when eating, drinking, singing, or playing a wind instrument; when masks are removed for these purposes, individuals must be spaced six feet apart. All mask requirements must be applied consistently with any state and federal law (e.g., Americans with Disabilities Act).

This order will be incorporated into the District’s Reopening Plan which will be presented to the Board of Education on September 1, 2021 at 7:00pm.

***

Reopening of School - Framework for Fall 2021:

Please see the August 18 update to our Reopening Plan Framework posted HERE and the August 19 Reopening Q and A video posted   HERE. The next update to the plan will be on September 1

***
We are excited to continue our planning for the upcoming school year focusing on having all students back to in-person learning each day of the week. As we all know, last year was full of challenges both large and small as we dealt with the ongoing changes in requirements and plans. It was dizzying to say the least! However, as a community we worked through each one of those challenges together all the while learning a great deal about what can work and what does not always work so well for our students despite our best efforts. Throughout it all, our collective focus on the health and safety of our students was critical and it will be again this year. Despite having fewer requirements currently in place, we will need an even greater focus on the physical and mental health of our children this year so that we, in turn, can focus on providing excellent opportunities for in-person teaching and learning. While we are spending, and will continue to spend, countless hours on phone calls, video conferencing, in in-person meetings, and responding to parent questions and concerns as we develop the details of the Framework, as a community we are going to have to come together and agree to set certain differences aside so that we minimize or eliminate disruptions to our students’ learning. The history of this district suggests that this can and will be done. 

With this in mind, please review the updated Reopening Plan Framework which can be found here on our website.  In addition, please review the latest Message from the Superintendent posted HERE.

Fall 2021 Reopening Status: The District is currently reviewing our reopening framework that is built on the recommendations in the July 9, 2021 guidance from the Centers for Disease Control  (CDC) with our internal groups. We will be posting this information and seeking staff and community input with a survey and/or forums during August.

Reopening Plan Survey Request: 
The Ballston Spa Central School District is in the process of developing our Fall 2021 Reopening Plan with the goal of providing in-person learning for all students without disruption and with the least amount of restrictions necessary to maintain the health and safety of our students and staff. Our work is based on the July 9, 2021 Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention in K-12 Schools and the July 27 Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), as well as the July 18 COVID-19 Guidance for Safe Schools from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).  

Our current draft reopening plan framework is on our website for your review. Please click HERE to access the plan. To develop additional details in the plan based on feedback from students, parents and caregivers, staff, and community members, we are asking for assistance in two keys areas - face mask requirements and transportation intentions. Please complete the survey posted HERE by Wednesday, August 11, 2021.

****  INFORMATION FROM THE 2020-21 SCHOOL YEAR:

June 16th Update - COVID-19 in our schools:

Positive Case - Today we were notified of a Malta Avenue student who has tested positive for COVID-19. As a result, 24 students and one teacher have been placed in mandatory quarantine by the Saratoga County Public Health Services. Please (please!) continue to notify us at COVIDreport@bscsd.org if you have symptoms, been knowingly exposed to an individual who has tested positive, if you have traveled outside of the state to a non-contiguous state, or if you have tested positive. Please note that masks are still required in K-12 schools and that school events must continue to follow the NYS Department of Health COVID health and safety protocols.

Masking and Restrictions - As noted yesterday, the Governor and the New York State Department of Health are still requiring that masks be worn while inside our school buildings. Periodic mask breaks will still continue to be provided by staff when students are properly distanced. Additional clarification was issued later in the day yesterday that all other health department restrictions remain in place for K – 12 schools. While we are all ready to move on from these restrictions, unfortunately they are still in place and we are still obligated to follow them. Those districts that have chosen not to follow them have been told by the state that they will be forced to move to fully remote instruction and may be subject to financial penalties.

Please review the additional information sent to all families - click HERE.

***

June 4th Update - With only three weeks left to our school year, there are lots of events happening in and around our schools. I encourage you to keep watch for updates from building principals and our communication office, and to check our website for updates on many of these events. Thanks to the many of you who have stayed in touch with us on the details of these events and offered suggestions, and to all of you for understanding that we are a) still limited in what we are able to do for end-of-year events, and b) packing in a number of events that we typically spread over a number of weeks and months. Our goal is to provide as many in-person celebrations as possible to end the year on while still ensuring the health and safety of all involved. To that end, a few additional updates for your attentionare posted HERE. 

***

April 16th Update - Summary of Revised Interim Guidance regarding social distancing and virus management requirements in New York State.

Please review the information sent to all families - click HERE.

***

March 23rd Update - COVID-19 in our schools:

Due to a number of new positive cases in our schools, we sent out an appeal to parents requesting them to help ensure that we all continue to be vigilant against the spread of the virus:

As many of you are aware, this has already been a busy start to the week for us with seven (7) positive cases in our schools reported yesterday (following the thirteen (13) positive cases last week). There are many others being placed into mandatory quarantine, including 14 of our PTECH students, per the rules of the Saratoga County Department of Public Health Services. This is a clear reminder that the virus is still alive and well despite the significant number of vaccinations that have been administered to our staff and in the community and why the CDC still lists Saratoga County at High Risk for community transmission which aligns with the increasing 7-day average in the county as shown at https://forward.ny.gov/percentage-positive-results-county-dashboard. 

Addditional information is posted in the update posted HERE.

***

March 17th Update: Travel Guidance for BSpa families:

For families who may be traveling out of New York State prior to spring break, until March 31 you (if you were not fully vaccinated) and your child(ren) will be required to be tested prior to leaving your destination and again upon your return as outlined in the NYS Interim Guidance. After April 1, this testing is no longer required regardless of whether or not you are vaccinated. 

Addditional information is posted in an update HERE. 

***

March 16th Update:  The travel guidelines from NYS have changed over the past two weeks and are as follows:

1. On March 3, the Governor announced that until March 31, all travelers coming into (or back into NYS) who are fully vaccinated are no longer required to quarantine or “test out” of quarantine. All others would be required to quarantine or could “test out” as detailed in the March 10 Interim Guidance.  
2. On March 10, the Governor announced that effective April 1, no domestic traveler (traveling within the United States) will have to quarantine or test out upon returning to New York State. 

For those who will be traveling out of state for spring break, please do so with continued caution and vigilance against the virus, particularly given the ongoing risk for community spread as noted above.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at schoolopening@bscsd.org. 

Additional information is in the latest update - posted HERE. 

***

March 10th Update - Travel Guidelines following the Governor’s March 3 statement on travel for vaccinated individuals, New York State Department of Health issued revised guidelines:
 
“ Further, domestic travelers to New York may be exempt from quarantine if they satisfy the following criteria.

1. Consistent with recent CDC guidance, asymptomatic individuals who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 do not need to quarantine during the first 3 months after full vaccination if such travelers:

• Are fully vaccinated (i.e., ≥2 weeks following receipt of the second dose in a 2-dose series, or ≥2 weeks following receipt of one dose of a single-dose vaccine); AND
• Are within 3 months following receipt of the last dose in the series; AND
• Have remained asymptomatic since last COVID-19 exposure.

  OR

2. Consistent with CDC guidance from February 13, 2021, asymptomatic individuals who have previously been diagnosed with laboratory confirmed COVID-19 and have since recovered, are not required to retest and quarantine within 3 months after the date of symptom onset from the initial COVID-19 infection or date of first positive diagnostic test if asymptomatic during illness.” 

Complete document: Update Interim Travel Advisory March 10, 2021

***

Good Morning Ballston Spa Parents and Caregivers: (03.09.21)

Updates for your attention include new information on the 2021-22 school calendar, COVID-19 in the schools, traffic issues, student clubs and sports, FREE food and Kindergarten Registration. The information is in the Superintendent's Message - posted HERE.

***

Good afternoon Ballston Spa Parents and Caregivers:  (03.01.21)

An Update for your attention includes new information on positive cases of COVID-19 in the schools and plans for Inclement Weather Days. Please check the news or your email on file for the latest Message from the Superintendent. The information is in the Superintendent's Message - posted HERE.

***

Good afternoon Ballston Spa Parents and Caregivers:  (02.26.21)

Today we are sending you a few updates for your attention including new information on Friday in-person instruction at the elementary schools, Positive cases of COVID 19 in the schools, Reporting of cases, and Updates on Sports, Communications and Kindergarten Registration.  The information is in the Superintendent's Message - posted HERE

***

Good afternoon Ballston Spa Parents and Caregivers: (02.12.21)

Today we are providing a few updates for your attention including new information on Friday in person instruction at the elementary schools, Tracking positive cases of COVID 19 in the schools, February Travel Impact, Reporting of Cases, Pinpoint Health Screener, Free meals for all students, and extracurricular updates.  The information is in the Superintendent's Message - posted HERE

***

Good Afternoon Ballston Spa Parents and Caregivers: (01.25.21)

Today we are releasing a few updates for your attention including new information on Snow Days, Tracking Positive Cases of COVID-19 in our Schools, the Impact of Mandatory Quarantines, the Winter Sports Season and Reporting of COVID 19 Cases. The information is in the Superintendent's Message - posted HERE.

***

Dear BSCSD Parents and Caregivers: (01.21.21) 

Our continued thanks for your understanding and support during these past two weeks of fully remote instruction. We know that this has posed significant challenges for many of you, some of which hopefully may have been alleviated a bit with the child care that a number of our school aide staff have provided. However, we know and agree that having our hybrid learning model back in place as soon as possible is what most of our students need. Below, please find a number of updates on our status for next week, on COVID-19 related information, and on a few other goings on within the district. 

1. Reopening Status for Monday, January 25 – At this time, we have sufficient staffing in place to be able to open for in-person learning for all schools next week.

1. For High School, 9^th and 10^th graders will be in-person.
2. For Middle School, Monday and Tuesday will be A-K students and Wednesday and Thursday will be L-Z students.
3. For Kindergarten - 5^th Grade, Monday - Thursday return to Hybrid Model.

That said- please be aware that as we continue to track and trace positive cases and mandatory quarantines, it is possible that this decision may have to change. If so, to the extent that we can, we will bring in targeted groups of learners who are struggling in the remote setting. We will notify you as soon as possible should we need to make any such adjustments.

Additional Information is in the Superintendent's Message - posted HERE

***

Dear BSCSD Parents and Caregivers: (01.14.21) 

As we continue to experience increases in students and staff testing positive (34 since last Friday) and quarantining (130 since last Friday), we no longer have the staff needed to reopen for in-person learning next week. As a result, we will remain fully remote for all grades January 19 – January 22, 2021. 

We will maintain the same exceptions that were in place this week including:

1. PTech – All PTech students will attend their Clean Tech ECHS program at the HVCC Malta Campus.
2. BOCES CTE – Students will still attend their program and will be on a Friday transportation schedule.
3. Out-of-District Placements – Students will continue to be transported. 

In addition:

1. Childcare – For families who are enrolled in our Free and Reduced Price Lunch program or who are in our McKinney Vento Program, you have received an email with options for child care should you need it. Please respond to the email as soon as possible so that we can plan accordingly.
2. Food Service – Our food service continues to prepare FREE meals for all students in the district. Families are able to pick up at Gordon Creek Elementary School twice a week. Next Monday the schools are closed in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on January 18, 2021 so the district will provide several breakfast and lunch meals for pickup on both Tuesday, January 19 and Thursday, January 21. Families may pick up meals at the front entrance to the Gordon Creek Elementary School (on Rt 67 just west of the village) between 1:15 – 2:15pm.
3. Reporting of Cases – For our ongoing numbers of positive cases, please see the District’s COVID-19 Report Card that is updated each afternoon. During our remote learning period, we will not be reporting the daily cases in each building and program area, but will be contacting any families who may be impacted by positive cases. Saratoga County Department of Public Health Services will then follow up with you on specific details. Please understand that there may well be cases that you are aware of that we are not yet and we ask that you continue to utilize our COVIDreport@bscsd.org mailbox to report cases and quarantining to us. 

I will update you by or before Friday, January 22 regarding our plans for reopening on Monday, January 25. 

Finally, please continue to stay vigilant, particularly during the long weekend ahead in mask wearing, social distancing, avoiding large crowds, completing all portions of the Pinpoint screener each day including temperature checks, and practicing hand and mouth hygiene as these are the critical steps that will keep us all healthy thereby allowing our schools to open on January 25. 

Thanks very much. 

Ken Slentz
Superintendent of Schools

***

Dear BSCSD Parents and Caregivers:  (01.08.21)

As promised in our January 5 Updates, I wanted to update you on our January 11 status. Despite our best collective efforts to get back to our regular hybrid model, based on the increasing number of positive cases and mandatory quarantine requiring substantially more tracing and our decreasing ability to provide consistent staffing in all areas, I regret to announce that we will be moving to a fully remote learning model for all grades on January 11 – January 15, 2021. 

There are a few exceptions to this in the following areas:

1. PTech – Our senior PTech students will still attend their Clean Tech ECHS program at the HVCC Malta Campus.
2. BOCES CTE – Students will still attend their program and will be on a Friday transportation schedule.
3. Out-of-District Placements – Students will continue to be transported. 

For elementary students, principals will be communicating with parents shortly regarding materials pick up early next week. 

I fully understand the challenges that this model presents to families, particularly those who struggle to find child care, but in the current environment I simply cannot see how we can maintain the health and safety of students and staff while providing consistency of instruction that we need. 

Food Pickup will be available - Breakfast and Lunch meals are available to any student during the Remote Learning week (Jan 11-15)
     When: Food pickup will be available on 1/11 and 1/13 from 1:15 – 2:15 pm.
     Where: The pickup location will remain Gordon Creek Elementary School for all families.
     What: The district will be providing lunch meals and breakfast meals for any student. 

A continued reminder to parents and caregivers to utilize our COVIDreport@bscsd.org mailbox to report cases and quarantining to us. 

I will update you by or before Friday, January 15 regarding our plans for reopening on Tuesday, January 19 (the district is closed on Monday, January 18 for the Observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day). 

Finally, please continue to stay vigilant in mask wearing, social distancing, avoiding large crowds, completing all portions of the Pinpoint Health screener each day even when remote including temperature checks, and practicing hand and mouth hygiene as these are the critical steps that will keep us all healthy thereby allowing our schools to open on January 19. 

Thanks very much.

Ken Slentz
Superintendent of Schools

***

Dear BSCSD Parents and Caregivers: (01.03.20)

Happy New Year to you all. I am writing today to provide a brief update as to our status for the week ahead as well as the details of the statistics of the virus in the region and within the school district.

Current Regional Data – As we have learned over the course of the management of the COVID-19 virus, schools are not the source of the spread of the virus. Unfortunately though, this statistic tends to forget that our schools exist within communities and our community, similar to what we saw after the Thanksgiving holiday, is experiencing a rather significant increase in numbers of positive cases and associated quarantining. To give you a sense of this, when I reported to you on December 23, the 7-day average of positive cases in Saratoga County was at 6.9%. In our December 30 Updates, that same percentage was at 9%. As of today, we are now at 11% which has prompted our district physician to be supportive of keeping elementary schools open while moving middle and high schools to remote instruction for a two-week period. Our intention, as noted last week, is to move our middle and high schools to remote instruction for the week ahead during which time we will make a determination as to whether we can return to our combination of in-person and remote learning beginning January 11, 2021.

Current District Data – Since December 22, we have been notified of approximately 30 positive cases of student and staff in our district as well as numerous students and staff being quarantined. One of the areas of operations that is being most challenged by this data is our transportation department. We are functioning with a skeleton crew at this point and additional positive cases and/or quarantining may require us to change our current plans. We will notify you as quickly as possible if this is the case.

In response to some of the questions that we have received on this topic, it is important to note here that each district has their own set of unique circumstances on which they base their decisions. There are districts in our region, for example, that have positive cases in the single digits and, therefore, there will be little impact to their operations. With this in mind, comparisons to other districts are very difficult to make (and I would always use caution when attempting to do so.)

January 4 Reopening – As noted in our December 30 Updates, the following plan will be in place for our reopening tomorrow:

1. Grades K-5 – There will be no change and remote and in-person learning will continue to take place.
2. Grades 6-12 – Students will be fully remote for the week of January 4-8.

Pinpoint screening will be reactivated for Monday morning. We ask that you please be sure to accurately complete the survey daily including the temperature check. It is our intention to run this model for the week of January 4-8 in hopes that we can get back to our full in-person/remote rotation (our hybrid model) beginning the week of January 11, 2021. 

Reporting Positive Cases – Thanks very much to those of you who have utilized our COVIDreport@bscsd.org mailbox to report cases and quarantining to us. We ask that you please continue to use this method to notify us until further notice.

Please continue to stay vigilant in mask wearing, social distancing, avoiding large crowds, completing all portions of the Pinpoint screener each day, and practicing hand and mouth hygiene as these are the critical steps that will keep us all healthy thereby allowing our schools to stay open.

Thanks so much to you all.

Ken Slentz
Superintendent of Schools

***

Dear Parents and Caregivers – (11.16.20)

In our recent change to our communications protocols, we had committed to sending any “new” information from the District Office on Friday’s. However, based on recent questions, new information from the state, and questions posed, we wanted to send an update today due to the timeliness of the information. For this version of the Updates, there are seven important items for your attention.       

1. CLARIFICATION - School Instructional Model Appeals Timeline – A few of you have asked about the December 18 date for our next review of the appeals process as discussed in my last two Updates. To be clear, this is the date by which we will determine whether the rolling appeals process is indeed working and manageable or if we will instead have to return to a set date that parents will need to commit by. This requires no action from parents at this point as our rolling appeals are underway and being utilized by a number of you. Should we determine by or on December 18 that our process needs to be revised, I will update you at that time. 

2. Instructional Model and Transportation Appeals – To allow us and our Transportation Department to better track the requests for changes on our buses, we are introducing a new form that will be utilized when requesting a change from remote learning to in-person or from parent/caregiver provided transportation to District transportation. If you are currently providing transportation to your child(ren) but now need them to ride the bus, please contact the Transportation Department at transportationrequest@bscsd.org to request the new form. Because of space restrictions as set by the NYS DOH requirements, we may not be able to immediately accommodate the request, but you will be put on a waitlist and contacted once an opportunity becomes available. If you wish to appeal for a change in learning model for your child(ren) and will need transportation, please contact your child’s building principal and they will provide you with the necessary forms. 

3. Testing and Tracing for UPDATE: New York State Cluster Action Initiative – Over the course of the last several weeks, NYS has been detailing the Cluster Action Initiative that is intended to contain any outbreaks of the COVID-19 virus. If our region were to be designated as a “yellow zone” under this initiative, the Department of Health requires that schools who wish to remain open either “test 20% of in-person students, faculty and staff over the two-week period immediately following the announcement of a yellow zone designation. If the results of the testing reveal that the positivity rate among the 20% of those tested is lower than the yellow zone’s current 7-day positivity rate, testing at that school will no longer be required to continue”, or go fully remote. We are currently working with our District Physician to see if it is possible to partner with a medical firm who can provide the testing necessary for us to meet the 20% requirement. If we are able to identify one, we will then follow up with parents and staff seeking permission/agreement to be tested in such a scenario. If neither of these things are true, we would have to go fully remote. I will continue to update you on our progress in this regard. Again this is being done in case we were to become a designated yellow zone which is currently not the case. 

4. Notification About Positive Tests – In any instance where we have a COVID-positive case in a student, staff member that will impact the health, safety, or operations of the schools, we will communicate directly with you. Whenever possible, we will send these communications prior to 9:00pm using the text, call, and email features of our School Messenger system. For anything after 9:00pm, we will communicate with you first thing the next morning. 

5. Winter Sports Opportunities – At the November 4 Board of Education meeting, we presented the Board with the status of winter sports where we proposed to offer low-risk sports (bowling, Alpine skiing, and boys swimming and diving) and, should the state allow for competition in them, high-risk sports (girls and boys varsity basketball, boys hockey, and cheer/dance) in the upcoming season. Since that time, the state has moved the start of winter sports from November 30 to December 14 and has still not made a determination as to whether high-risk sports will be allowed to start. We will update the Board again this week and will continue to keep you posted. 

6. NYS Education Department (NYSED) Digital Equity Survey – In June 2020, NYSED released a Digital Equity Survey that asked schools to provide data on computing devices and broadband access in students’ and teachers’ locations of residence. While responses were not received from all schools, the data show that the digital divide is a very real and significant concern in our state. As many districts and schools are operating in either a fully remote or hybrid instructional model for at least a portion of their students in the 2020-21 school year, access to dedicated computing devices and sufficient, reliable high-speed internet in students’ and teachers’ places of residence continues to be a significant need. To better serve students, families, and educators, it is imperative that NYSED has, and maintains, an updated, accurate, complete picture of the state of digital equity for New York students and teachers. As such, NYSED is re-issuing the Digital Equity survey and we are asking for parents, teachers, and administrators to complete this survey by Monday, November 30 so that we can share the results with NYSED thereafter. We anticipate this will take no more than 10 minutes to complete. We are not surveying students at this time, but do anticipate doing so at a later date. Thank you!

7. Passing Stopped School Buses – Please remember that when a school bus has its red lights on, it is illegal to pass it from either direction, even on a divided highway! Our transportation staff tells us that this happened a number of times on Route 9 in particular. Currently, the District is piloting a new stop arm system that is even brighter than past models in hopes of reminding drivers to follow these rules and to avoid the tragedy that all too often results from not doing so. 

Should you have any questions about this information, please do not hesitate to let us know via our school opening email box at schoolopening@bscsd.org. 

Our continued thanks for your ongoing support! 

Ken Slentz

Superintendent of Schools

***

Dear Parents and Caregivers – (11.06.20)

For this version of the Updates, there are four important items for your attention.       

1. District Attendance Plans versus School Instructional Models – In our last update we noted that instead of holding you to the specific date of November 20 before we would allow a change to instructional models for your children (hybrid to remote or remote to hybrid), we would instead be utilizing a “rolling” appeals procedure through the next several weeks until December 18. This is for the instructional model only and should not be confused with our in-person attendance plans for each level – K-5, 6-8 and 9-12. As a reminder the plans are as follows based on the number of students that we can accommodate in our buildings and on our buses:
   1. Grades K-5 attend Monday – Thursday. All students are fully remote on Fridays.
   2. Grades 6-8 are divided in half by alphabet with ½ attending on Monday and Tuesday and the other ½ attending Wednesday and Thursday. All students learn remotely on Fridays.
   3. Grades 9-12 attend in-person every other week with grades 9 and 10 one week and grades 11 and 12 the other week. Students are fully remote on the alternative week. All students learn remotely on Fridays. 

2. UPDATE: Traveling during the Holidays to NYS Advisory States – On Saturday, October 31 the Governor issued Executive Order 205.2 and the NYS Department of Health subsequently issued Interim Guidance for Quarantine Restrictions on Travelers Arriving in New York State Following out of State Travel on Tuesday, November 3. The Guidance states, in part, that

All travelers entering New York from a state that is not a contiguous state*, or from a CDC Level 2 or 3 Travel Health Notice country, shall quarantine for a period of 14 days, consistent with Department of Health regulations for quarantine, unless: 1. For travelers who traveled outside of New York for more than 24 hours, such travelers must obtain testing within 72 hours prior to arrival in New York, AND 2. Such travelers must, upon arrival in New York, quarantine according to Department of Health guidelines, for a minimum of three days, measured from time of arrival, and on day 4 may seek a diagnostic test to exit quarantine.   

*Contiguous states are Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont. Travelers from these states are not subject to this guidance. Travelers who leave New York State for less than 24 hours do not need to obtain a diagnostic test before departing and do not need to quarantine upon return. However, such travelers must fill out the traveler form upon entry and must obtain a diagnostic test on the fourth day after arrival in New York.

Please see the attached document from Saratoga County Public Health Services- Saratoga County Holiday Travel Guidelines

3. School Closure in Anticipation of Uptick in Cases – Although this question is becoming increasingly common in the region, we have no such inclination at this time given the success in the District and the region in controlling the spread of the virus to this point. That said, as with all things that we are collectively dealing with this year, should the data change and tell a different story, we will have the necessary conversations, adjust our thinking where it is advisable to do so, and keep you informed as we do. For now, I ask that we stay focused on staying healthy and well, and remember that Staying Vigilant Means Staying Open. 

4. Winter Sports Opportunities – At this week’s meeting of the Board of Education meeting, administrators discussed a draft proposal to the Board for winter sports. This proposal was based on lessons learned from school reopenings across the state and country (cases are not being generated from schools) and over the course of our District’s last five weeks of our hybrid model. Our current proposal is to offer low-risk sports (Bowling, Alpine Skiing, and Boys Swimming and Diving) and, should the state allow for competition in them, high-risk sports (Girls and Boys Varsity Basketball, Boys Hockey, and Cheer/Dance) in the upcoming season. We are only able to offer Varsity level only for basketball as we have reduced gym space based on temporary classrooms occupying may of our gyms. We are now awaiting the release of additional guidance from the state before going back to the Board on November 18 with a final recommendation. I will provide any additional information we have in our next Update.

 Should you have any questions about this information, please do not hesitate to let us know via our school opening email box at schoolopening@bscsd.org. 

Our continued thanks for your ongoing support!

 Ken Slentz

Superintendent of Schools

*****

Dear Parents and Caregivers (10.27.20)

For this version of the Updates, there are nine important items for your attention as we are in the process of making a number of changes to current processes and procedures.

1. November 20 Change in Instructional Model (remote to in-person, or in-person to remote) Process – As an important component of managing our reopening in a way that allowed for as much consistency as possible in our class structures, we asked you to commit to the instructional model of choice - remote or in-person - for your children until November 20. During our reopening plan development, we anticipated reviewing appeals that day and making decisions accordingly. We now believe that this process would likely cause more disruptions than any of us can afford at this time.

With 6 weeks of experience behind us now, we will move from a November 20 appeals day to an ongoing or “rolling” appeals procedure through the next several weeks until    December 18. Depending on level – elementary or secondary – this process may look a bit different and we may not be able to accommodate your request right away. Under the rolling appeals process, if your request for a change in instructional model cannot be accommodated immediately, you will be put on a waitlist and contacted once an opportunity becomes available for your child in the model that you prefer. While this may cause some delays in placement of our students, we believe that this will cause the least amount of disruption to our students’ education. Our goal in this process is to ensure that any additional adjustments allow for greater predictability and consistency in our classes while trying to maintain as much flexibility for students and families as we can.

Therefore, if you are interested in a change in instructional program for your child - moving from in-person to remote learning or from remote to in-person learning, please contact your child’s building principal and they will assist you in the process and subsequently notify you of the determination.

2. Traveling During the Holidays to NYS Advisory States – We discourage travel to states that are on the NYS Travel Advisory list at this time due to the disruption that it will cause to a student’s education upon their return. If a family still chooses to travel, they must be sure to register with the NYS Department of Health upon their return (register at https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-19-travel-advisory) so that tracers can contact them each day to ensure that family members are symptom-free. Travelers including students will also be required to complete a mandatory 14-day quarantine upon your return. Because this situation is not caused by a positive test or an exposure to a COVID-positive individuals, we do not have the ability for all such students to move out of in-person learning to remote learning for this short period of time due to the disruptions that this can cause. Given the hybrid model that is currently in place in nearly all classes in grades 6-12, students may request permission from the building principal to attend class remotely for the quarantining period. However, because we do not have the hybrid model in place in the majority of our K-5 classes (and those that do have a hybrid model are very carefully balanced), elementary students will instead be provided with materials, resources, and supports that will allow the student to keep pace with the class to the greatest extent possible during the absence. For all students, these arrangements would continue until such time as the quarantine period ends and the student is cleared to return to in-person learning.

3. Testing and Tracing Impact - As noted in my last update, we have revised our processes and protocols in our COVID-19 Protocol for Evaluation of Symptomatic Illness and Testing and Tracing document. We continue to update this document based on situations that arise and our learning from them, as well as on updates and directives from the Department of Health and our District Physician. Please review this document to ensure that you understand what our action steps will be when we are notified of a positive test result from a student or staff member or an exposure of a student or staff member to a COVID-positive individual. In addition, we continue to review our communications protocol to ensure that we are providing as much information as possible while also being sure to protect the health rights of those students and staff involved in tracing. Moving forward, we will include the name of the school, the status (opened, closed, partially opened, etc.) and what can be expected for next steps from both the District and the Department of Health. Please know that we will not provide any specific information beyond this.

4. Closure Due to Positive COVID Case and Tracing – If an entire classroom, building, or all schools must close due to COVID-related reasons, students would move to fully remote instruction the following day. If only certain students who attend an in-person class are required to quarantine, the following steps will be taken:
   1. K-5, 5 days or less – the student(s) will be provided with class work materials, resources, and supports that will allow the student to keep pace with the class to the greatest extent possible during the absence.
   2. K-5, more than 5 days – the teachers and principal will work to determine the best solution for the student(s).
   3. 6 – 12 – students will participate in classes through remote instruction.

5. Using Cameras During Google Meet Sessions – Beginning Monday, November 2, all students will be required to have their cameras on during class sessions unless:
   1. The teacher gives permission for “cameras off” or
   2. A parents has permission from the principal to keep their child’s camera off due to specific circumstances which they describe to the principal. In these cases, students must commit to remaining engaged with the teacher as follows:
      1. Responding when called upon without exception,
      2. Responding to questions/prompts in the chat feature of Meet when asked, and
      3. Turning the camera on when both formal and informal assessments are being given.

6. Election Day Schedule: On November 3, we are scheduled for a half day of instruction and a half Superintendent Conference Day. As I believe you are all aware now, in order to give everyone the opportunity to maximize instructional time and practice with remote learning, the half instructional day will be fully remote for all grades. Building principals have or will be notifying parents of this as well. 

7. Snow Days in the 2020-2021 School Year – For the coming winter months, our processes will be a bit different than in the past.
   1. Weather-related Delay – on those mornings where we and our town highway departments need a bit more time to clear our campuses and our roads,
      1. Students in grades 6-12 will be fully remote and will follow their regular schedule for the day and attendance will be taken.
      2. Students in grades K-5 will be on a 1-hour delay for both remote and in-person learning and attendance will be taken.
   2. Weather-related Closure – While full closure will remain an option, 
      1. Advanced Notice – on those days where the weather is such that we are able to announce a closure the day/evening before, we may utilize a fully remote, synchronous (students are learning with the teacher via Google Meet) schedule depending on whether power is available in all parts of the District. Students would attend according to the regular schedule for the day and attendance will be taken.
      2. “Morning of” Notice – on days where we have to make the call by 6:00am, we may utilize a fully remote, asynchronous (students are learning independently student work without the teacher using assignments on Schoology) schedule depending on whether power is available in all parts of the District. Additional details will be forthcoming on this option.

Our closure announcement on TV, the website, and School Messenger would include this information as well as BOCES, ECHS P-TECH and Parochial School information. We will also be sure to note the difference between school closure and District closure so as to be clear regarding who must be on our campuses that day.

8. Improving Consistency in Communications – With our dependence on email as our major form of communication continuing to grow, we want to be as efficient as possible while also giving families as great a degree of predictability as possible as to when communications can be expected. Therefore, beginning the week of Monday, November 2, the following communications processes will take place:
   1. K-5 Parent/Caregiver information – All new information coming from the elementary schools will be sent on Thursdays.
   2. 6-12 Parent/Caregiver Information – All new information coming from the middle and high schools will be sent on Wednesdays. 
   3. District Office Communication – This information will be sent out on Fridays.

While reminders may periodically be sent on other days, all new information will follow this process.

9. School Lunch Updates – Beginning Monday November 2^nd the school lunch program at all elementary schools will undergo several changes. These changes are being made to address issues incurred during the past several weeks. Your patience is appreciated during these challenging times.
   1. Parent Meal Order Forms – The meal order form sent home with students will no longer be necessary. Students will order their lunch meals during breakfast each day.
   2. Breakfast – There will be one choice each day for breakfast. This meal will include the entrée, a portion of fruit or juice, and milk. No advance ordering is necessary.
   3. Lunch – For lunch there will be a hot and cold option available daily. The main entrée will rotate each day and will include the entrée, a vegetable, fresh fruit, and milk. The second option will be the bagel/yogurt meal which includes a vegetable, fruit and milk as well. As mentioned, this will be ordered by students during breakfast.

All meals will be free for all students throughout the school year and milk is available for purchase (charged to student accounts) and/or is available free with meals.

Should you have any questions about this information, please do not hesitate to let us know via our school opening email box at schoolopening@bscsd.org.

On behalf of all of, thanks very much for your ongoing support.

Ken

Ken Slentz

Superintendent of Schools

*****

Phasing In Our Students to Schools and Campuses: (10.5.20)

• September 21 – Varsity-level “lower-risk” sports begin practicing following the rules set forward by the Athletic Department and the Department of Health.
• September 28 – Certain Special Education students in self-contained classrooms will begin to attend in-school so as to allow them to learn routines, expectations, and protocols before their peers join them.
• October 5 – The District’s hybrid model begins with transportation and in-person-learning.

Expectations for reopening: As we move towards students returning to the classrooms, just a few reminders for everyone:

• Cover up – Wear Masks. This is a rule, plain and simple. Please work to build the habit for yourselves, for each other, and as models for our students. Please also reinforce this rule with students and colleagues alike. As an update on what constitutes a mask according to the CDC (see https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/about-face-coverings.html.)  Specifically, the guidance notes the following:
  • Further, the NYS Department of Health states that face shields worn without other face coverings are not considered adequate protection or source control against COVID-19 and should not be used.
• Wear masks with two or more layers to stop the spread of COVID-19
• Wear the mask over your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin
• Masks should be worn by people two years and older
• Masks should NOT be worn by children younger than two, people who have trouble breathing, or people who cannot remove the mask without assistance
• Do NOT wear masks intended for healthcare workers, for example, N95 respirators
• CDC does not recommend the use of gaiters or face shields. Evaluation of these face coverings is on-going but effectiveness is unknown at this time.
• Wash up – Please continue to practice hand and coughing/sneezing hygiene.
• Keep your distance – maintain at least 6 feet apart (12 ft if in PE or music/band) when on the buses, in hallways, and in classrooms.

Thanks again to all of you for your patience and partnership as we work through these first few weeks of school reopening. Please do not hesitate to contact your child’s school office for additional information or clarifications.

The Path Forward: Returning to School: Ballston Spa Central School District | WRGB 

*****

Dear Parents and Community Members:  (09.13.20)

Welcome (again) to the 2020-21 school year in Ballston Spa. Below, please find the latest updates on a number of topics related to our reopening with the start of remote learning for all students on September 14. Before I get to that information though, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the significance of this past Friday. Although it now seems like forever ago, September 11, 2001 remains deeply engrained in so many of our memories as the day the world stood still. As I noted to our team on Friday morning, for our students, this is now one of many days that they read about in textbooks and in various memorials for the day. That is both good and regrettable as history is so often forgotten in the fast-paced world in which we now live. But while the world stage has certainly changed since that time, the memories have not. For those of you who were directly impacted by this event and particularly those who lost acquaintances, friends, and loved ones in the events of that day, please accept our sincere condolences. We have not forgotten.

1. Student Orientation – Thanks so much to you all for working with building leaders, faculty, and staff in picking up the instructional materials, Chromebooks and for taking the time to participate in last week’s orientation days. As we went through each day, it was so gratifying to see the students and the readiness they are displaying to get back to their schooling. For those that were not able to attend the orientation days, please be sure to stay in close contact with your child’s teacher and principal just as you would in a typical school year.
2. Technology Challenges – Gone are the days where our biggest technology challenge was resetting the time on the VCR after a power outage. We are now dealing with a wide variety of challenges that could arise at any given time due to our dependency on technology in our reopening models. Please be assured that when such challenges arise, we will work as quickly as we can to resolve them so as to keep the focus on teaching and learning. To assist with this, please be sure to review the information sent by building principals so as to familiarize yourselves with the assistance that is available and to help establish routines and expectations of your children over the coming weeks. Your partnership with us in this regard is greatly appreciated! Please also keep in mind that because this is still new to students and teachers alike, there are going to be areas that don’t yet equate to in-person learning. We are absolutely committed to getting better each day once we go “live” with our online learning, but we want to keep it simple to start so as to maintain our focus and build early successes that we can expand upon as we move forward. As I noted to our staff in a recent update, if our first assumption is that everyone has positive intent, we will be off to a good start.
3. Visitors to our Schools – As a reminder, no walk-in visitors will be allowed to our schools until further notice. All visitors must have an appointment and will be asked to complete a health questionnaire and have their temperature taken at the front desk before being allowed to proceed into the building. Masks must be worn at all times. If a wellness check or wearing of masks is refused, entry into the building will also have to be refused in order to keep everyone in the district healthy and safe. As I have said before, if each of us plays our part in adhering to the rules of reopening and health and safety in particular, we will have fewer disruptions and the chances of getting back to a more typical year will be that much greater.
4. Fall 2020 Athletics – On Monday, September 14 at 6:00pm, the Board of Education will hold a special meeting to address the fall sports season based on the guidance provided by the State Department of Health and the State Public High School Athletic Association, and the capacity of the District to host the available sports. For additional information on how to attend, please check our website HERE.
5. Food Service Begins This Week – Just a reminder that our food service program begins this week on Monday, September 14. For information on where meals can be picked up, please check our website HERE.
6. Communications – Just like the typical school year, please direct questions or concerns to your child’s teacher, school counselor, or building principal so as to get the most detailed and timely responses. We will continue our periodic Updates, newsletters, and video messages to keep you as informed as possible given the likelihood of ongoing changes including the impact of positive COVID-19 tests on students and staff or quarantining because of contact tracing procedures by county health departments.
7. Get Better Each Day – Finally, as I noted to our staff on our opening day, my challenge and expectation is that as we reopen with our various phase-ins over the coming weeks, we will work diligently to get better every day. We will rely on our internal partnerships, our parent partnerships, and our community partnerships to make this happen as our District mantra – Educating Everyone Takes Everyone – comes to life starting tomorrow morning.

We are so very excited to start the teaching and learning for the year. We look forward to working together to provide our students with every opportunity that we can in order to get them off to an excellent start this year.

Most sincerely and with many thanks-

Ken Slentz

Superintendent of Schools

Ballston Spa CSD

*****

Dear Parents and Caregivers: (09.03.20)

Please review the latest video message from the Superintendent for an update on our reopening plans. It is posted HERE.
The slides are also posted HERE.
The reopening plan summary is located in the reopening information HERE .

Thank you

*****

Dear Parents and Caregivers of BSCSD students: (08.26.20)

As I noted in the Updates sent earlier this week, we are asking you to fill out the 2020 Student Registration form for each of your children for our hybrid in-person/remote or fully remote learning model (currently scheduled to begin October 5^th). This registration process will allow us to know exactly how many students will be attending each of the two models and allow us to finalize our hybrid in-person/remote model. Please be sure to use your child’s legal name (e.g., William Smith instead of Bill Smith) when completing the registration form.

Please complete the registration process no later than Monday, August 31

The form and link to various supporting information can be found HERE.  Please note that this is a different form than what is filled out for new students and families, so please go directly to this link as a Google search will take you to the new student section. In addition, please review the information below regarding the District’s Remote Learning Program.  

One of our goals in all of our planning is to keep our approaches as simple as possible to maximize effectiveness and minimize confusion. To meet this goal and to provide as similar a learning experience as possible for all of our students and to be as consistent as possible for parents, students, and teachers alike, we have the following support structures in place for our Remote Learning Program:

1. Remote Learning Program description - Please review the overall plan including student and parent expectations HERE.

2. Common Video Conferencing Platform - Google Meet will be utilized for student and classroom meetings.

3. Common Learning Management System - Schoology will be the platform for all students and staff across K-12. This online platform is where assignments, assessments, and student work will be housed. Additional information about this platform will be available shortly.  
4. Common Learning Devices - As many of you experienced in the spring, not every computer shows the same structure/layout for Schoology or other programs that we have in place to support virtual instruction. Therefore, in order to ensure that each student has as similar an experience as possible in their remote learning and to minimize frustrations for all involved, we are asking that every student pick up a district-issued Chromebook to use in our Remote Learning Program. Schedules for pick-up of Chromebooks and instructional support materials will be sent to you from your building administrators.
   
   5. Technical Assistance - Trainings and Help Desk services for students, parents, and staff will be available to help solve challenges with our programs and platforms. More information will be coming prior to September 14 on these services.
   
   We look forward to seeing all of our students on screen on September 14, 2020 and remain confident that we will see many of them in person on October 5. As a reminder, we expect to make a final decision about this date by September 18.  Please submit questions to schoolopening@bscsd.org or contact the respective school’s main office for specific information. 
   
   Thanks very much!
   
   Ken
   
   Ken Slentz, Superintendent of Schools

*****

Dear Parents and Caregivers: (08.24.20) 

As we quickly near the opening of school for remote learning on September 14 and in-person learning on October 5, I wanted to provide you with some important, pertinent information as well as important dates:    

1. August 17 Training Update and Impact– As I recently noted in an update to you last week, one of our staff members tested positive for the COVID-19 virus after having participated in one of our trainings in our high school cafeteria. I also noted that temperatures were taken of those people who were in attendance. After further review of the information, temperatures were in fact not taken during this training and I apologize for any confusion this may have caused. It was certainly not my intention to provide any inaccurate information. Based on our overall review of this and of other meetings that have been held this summer, we will begin implementing the same health and safety protocol for all essential meetings and in-person trainings over the next few weeks that we will utilize during the school year and staff have been notified accordingly. 

2. Plans for Testing and Tracing– Related to the positive case identification, we received a number of questions about what we will do in such cases if we experience them this fall. Our protocols are included in our draft plans which are posted on the School Reopening Information section of our website which can be found at https://www.bscsd.org/Page/13199. We will continue to revise and report these plans as we receive additional information from the county and state. 

3. Student Registration for fall– One of the key steps for our October 5 opening for in-person learning is the registration process for the model of learning that our students will choose to participate in – remote or in-person. While the parent survey gave us a good indication that some 23% of our students will remain remote after we open, there were a number of other parents who were undecided and requested more information before making their decision. We now need to know exactly how many students will be attending remotely, and how many will be attending in-person.  To that end, this week we anticipate providing both additional information as well as the registration form for all students. Once we have the responses in hand, we can begin the work of building class schedules, assigning teachers, determining room availability, and assigning grade levels to buildings. Based on our revised model, we now anticipate that all grade levels will be able to remain in their current buildings and we will confirm this once we have the results of the student registration forms. 

4. Elementary Student Supplies List – By Wednesday of this week, all elementary schools will have their information posted for student supplies for the year ahead. Should you have any questions, please contact the main office of your child’s building. 

5. Fall Athletics– As you may have seen in the news today, Governor Cuomo has approved limited fall sports to begin on September 21. There are a number of seeming contradictions to existing state level guidance and so the New York State Public High School Athletic Association will be meeting over the coming days to determine how they and the respective sections across the state will manage this. Once we have additional details we will share this with you. 

6. School District Finances– We have received a few questions regarding what is happening with the tax dollars due to our three week delay for in-person learning. As I mentioned during one of the community forums this past week, the Governor’s Division of the Budget (DOB) issued their latest fiscal update recently (see FY 2021 First Quarterly State Budget Financial Plan Update if interested – warning – it’s a 403 page document!) in which it was stated that, because no additional Federal pandemic aid has been authorized, DOB began withholding 20 percent of most of our state aid payments in June, and that all or a portion of these withholdings would become permanent unless additional federal aid is received, and even then it depends on the amount of aid received. While we had made initial plans to help offset any potential reductions as noted in our budget communications, those plans had to quickly change based on our re-opening planning and the state requirements under which we have to operate. Specifically, we have had to hire additional staff and purchase additional equipment including PPE, cleaning materials and supplies, and cleaning equipment in order to manage our reopening plans. The combination of additional expenditures and decreasing revenue has left us with little to no remaining flexibility in our plans going into the fall and we continue to utilize the tax dollars accordingly. As we expect this situation to continue to evolve, we will continue to update the Board of Education at their upcoming meetings on this topic and I will include information in future updates as well. 

Despite the many challenges that we face in our reopening planning, it is nonetheless very exciting for us to think about seeing our students on September 14 and to then begin an in-person transition on October 5. Virtual grade level meetings are taking place, orientations are being planned, Chromebook and materials pick up schedules are being built, and our planning teams continue refining the details of our reopening. So long as we all continue to do our part in managing the virus, I fully expect that I will be able to announce on September 18 that we will in fact be ready to go for in-person learning on October 5. 

On behalf of our entire team, thanks so much for your understanding, support, and partnership as we continue through these uncharted times. 

Thanks very much. 

Ken 

Ken Slentz, Superintendent of Schools

****

Dear Parents, Caregivers, and Community Members: (08.14.20) 

As I noted in my communications with you last Friday, Governor Cuomo has announced that schools may  reopen, but that it was up to school district superintendents to make the final decision as to whether they will  reopen so long as the regional infection rates remain low. I am writing today to announce the very difficult decision that I have made in this regard. In short, while our first day of instruction for all students remains Monday, September 14 via remote learning, in-person learning at the Ballston Spa Central School District will not begin until Monday, October 5. 

I am incredibly grateful for the amount of time, energy, and the thinking that our many planning teams have devoted in an attempt to allow us to open safely for in-person learning on September 14. However, there are still far too many variables and changes in information at this time for me to say with the necessary confidence that I can keep our students and our staff healthy and safe while also keeping them properly focused on teaching and learning. 

By announcing this decision today, our intent is to give parents as much time as possible to arrange for the additional child care; for our staff to participate in trainings that focus on strengthening our remote learning program plan; to continue to monitor and learn from the information coming out of schools across the country who are already opening and seeing a number of challenges in doing so; and to continue our preparations for in-person learning to begin on October 5. To this end, our remote learning registration form will not be required at this time, but will be sent as we get closer to October 5 if we are allowed to reopen. 

Next week, we will hold three community forums to further discuss our rationale, the details of our remote learning plan, and what possibilities might exist for providing childcare and food service for our families. We will also be working to adjust our plans and postings to reflect this change in direction. For the forums, you may submit questions to the schoolopening@bscsd.org mailbox with the subject line “Forum Question” or you may submit the questions via the chat feature of the WebEx platform. More details are posted on our website regarding the dates, times, and format of the forums. 

Please know that as difficult as it was for me to make this decision, I fully understand that the difficulties that this presents for many of our families is even greater. We will work diligently over the coming weeks to try to find solutions that will be as helpful as possible while also keeping the health and safety of our students, staff, and community at the forefront of every decision that we make. 

Sincerely, 

Ken Slentz

Superintendent of Schools

Ballston Spa CSD

*****

Dear Parents and Caregivers: (08.07.20)

 As some of you are aware, the Governor announced this afternoon (with a good deal of nuancing) that schools can reopen in September under the rules set forth by the Departments of Health and Education. The Governor will monitor the data between now and then and if there is a spike in positive COVID 19 cases, he will change his decision. 

The Governor also announced that, in addition to posting our full reopening plan, by next Friday, August 14, we must also post separately our plans for:

• Remote learning (we continue to work on specific components of how this will be delivered),
• COVID-19 testing of students and staff, and
• Contact tracing in a school after a positive test.

 Regarding communications, the Governor directed that all districts must conduct the following by Friday, August 21:

• At least three discussion sessions with parents which can be held in person or remotely. (To maintain everyone’s health and safety, our sessions will be held through a WebEx virtual meeting platform and the schedule for meetings will be sent and posted on Monday, August 10).
• At least one discussion with all teachers and administrators about the details of our reopening plan.

 As we continue our planning on the larger plan and for each of these components, we have now posted a revised Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) to our school opening webpage. Because there is additional information in the FAQ document and that there are a number of questions to our schoolopening@bscsd.org mailbox that we have not yet been able to answer yet, we are extending the deadline for the completion of our parent survey to Monday, August 10 at 5:00 pm. Please answer each question to the best of your ability with the current information available.

Finally, on Monday afternoon, August 10, we will post a revised version of our Reopening Plan based on feedback we have received from ongoing meetings at both the District and building level.

Our continued thanks.

Ken Slentz
Superintendent of Schools
Ballston Spa CSD

****

Dear Parents and Caregivers of Ballston Spa students – 

We continue our work and planning for the reopening of schools in September. While we currently have a general plan in which all of the technical requirements from the Department of Health and the State Education Department are met, making this technical plan an operational plan for each of our schools will require additional work and additional information. The work will be in the form of Board of Education communications and feedback; school-based work groups consisting of parents, administrators, teachers, school staff, employee organization leaders;  work with our employee associations; reviewing emails to our schoolopening@bscsd.org mailbox; reviewing and acting upon additional information from the state, and/or reviewing updates from our school district attorneys.  

For additional information, we are asking for your help in letting us know the intentions that each of you have for your child(ren) for the fall. The parent survey at the link below asks for the key information that will assist us in determining transportation capacity and routes, building organization and classroom structures, our food service arrangement, and how we can best develop a process for gathering student health information prior to the start of school each day. 

All of this, as I have mentioned before, is contingent upon the announcement from the Governor that schools will be allowed to reopen in September. That announcement is expected next week. Although this will likely be covered in all of the major media outlets, we will nonetheless communicate directly with you once that announcement is made. In the meantime, please be sure to check our School Opening Information page on our website for additional information about our planning. 

Our thanks for your continued support, patience, and assistance as we work towards September. 

Ken Slentz
Superintendent of Schools
Ballston Spa CSD

 ****

Please review the Parent Survey Information and the FAQ documents below and then complete the PARENT SURVEY by August 10, 2020 at the following link for each student you have enrolled in the BSCSD:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfcGkA4rwpesItysJ5zdb7svdrXXg6KsWGOqkSgkrsiYJV4WQ/viewform

Thank You.

Reopening Plan Parent Survey Information 073020

Reopening Plan FAQ

*****

As of July 17, 2020, we have received over 150 pages of guidance from the Governor and the State Education Department. The BSCSD is continuing our group work on developing three reopening models – fully open, fully closed with remote learning, or a hybrid of these two models.

We will be communicating with parents in the days ahead as to what each of these models looks like, but for each of the plans that include in-person attendance, you can safely assume the following conditions will be in place:

1. Continued attention to safety and security of students, staff, and, visitors (where they are allowed in our buildings.)
2. Health checks/screenings of students at various times using various methods throughout the day (please be sure to follow the usual guidelines as to when to keep your child home. See https://www.bscsd.org/health for more information);
3. Advanced and more frequent cleaning and disinfection of buses and buildings;
4. Protocol for how we will address and isolate students or staff who become ill  during the school day;
5. Students and staff wearing of masks/face coverings on buses and in our buildings with certain exceptions;
6. Social distancing requirements and guidelines at bus stops, on buses, when entering the school building, in the school building, and in our classrooms/labs;
7. Restrictions on how and where breakfast and lunches will be made available/served;
8. Training availability for students, staff, and parents on health and safety protocols and effective components of remote learning; and
9. Continuous communications through consistent form and various means including website, email, social media, direct mailings, voice/text messages, video messages and presentations. 
   
   

Managing our way through a pandemic is a team effort that will rely on each and every one of us to play our part in taking care of ourselves and of one another.

District Reopening Plans based on the state guidance will be submitted by July 31^st; and then a determination about reopening of schools will be made by the Governor during the week of August 1-7, 2020.

For additional information, please visit the subpages in this section, send your comments/inquires to Schoolopening@bscsd.org or call the BSCSD District Office at (518)884-7195.