Dear Schuylerville Middle & High School families,

The New York State Department of Health (DOH) recently updated its guidance regarding physical distancing requirements in schools, to make it consistent with the CDC’s recommendation of a reduction from six feet to three feet in classrooms. The DOH’s updated guidance applies to counties with low and moderate risk of transmission. 

There are still several instances where physical distancing of six feet is required to be maintained in school districts:

• There must be physical distancing of six feet between adults (teachers, staff and visitors) and between adults and students. 
• There must be physical distancing of six feet when students are eating meals or snacks,  drinking, or during other times when masks are removed. 
• Individuals participating in singing or playing a wind instrument must be six feet apart 
• Six feet of physical distance must be maintained in common areas and outside of classrooms where possible.

Face coverings are still required to be worn at all times except while eating. 

Community forums

Our administrative team continues to evaluate the district’s learning models, taking into account the region’s infection rate and the number of requests for students to return to campus in-person. Our ultimate goal is to return to 100% in-person learning for all of our students in a systematic manner. It is a priority to balance the social-emotional and academic needs of our students, while remaining diligent in the health and safety protocols that have kept our schools open this year.

The first step is for two virtual community forums to be held:

• Schuylerville Middle School: Monday, May 10, 6:30 p.m.
• Schuylerville High School: Wednesday, May 12, 6:30 p.m.
  • Click here for the high school forum link

Links for the virtual community forums will be sent out to families; questions will be taken during the forums after presentations by the building principals. 

Learning models

Following the community forums, middle and high school families will have the following options for their students:

• Remain in the full, remote learning model for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year
• Remain in the hybrid learning model for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year
• Transition to a five-day a week learning model (full-time, in-person instruction) for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year

More details will be forthcoming regarding transition dates for specific grade levels.

Contact tracing/mandatory quarantines

The district will still be required to work with Saratoga County Public Health Services to complete contact tracing and issue mandatory quarantines when there are positive cases of COVID-19. The transition from six feet to three feet in physical distancing will allow us to bring back more students to a five-day a week model, but could also increase the number of quarantines after contact tracing. Staff and students who are fully vaccinated are not required to quarantine even if exposed to a positive case.

Thank you for your continued support as we navigate this transition in learning models for our students.

Dr. Ryan Sherman
Superintendent

Gregg Barthelmas
COVID-19 Coordinator
Director of Pupil Personnel Services

James Ducharme
Schuylerville High School Principal

Katie Elsworth
Schuylerville Middle School Principal