Dear Cohoes School Community,
This is an update on the rapidly evolving situation regarding COVID-19/Coronavirus. We continue to monitor all guidance from local, state and federal agencies. At this time, there are no confirmed cases of coronavirus in the Cohoes City School District. However, out of an abundance of caution, we are joining with other area districts and closing school for students for the week of March 16-20.
Given that this is a rapidly evolving public health issue, we feel that this is the most proactive and prudent action available to us. This is designed to help limit the spread of illness and to provide time to reassess the situation next week.
Because there are practical limits to trying to continue the instructional program in an online format, that will not be our goal. Our focus will be on sharing a variety of resources for parent-guided and self-guided learning for students. We plan to begin sharing these resources during the early part of next week. Families should look for more information around that time.
There will be no other events in the district the week of March 16-20.
We are working with our food service department on a plan to make “grab and go” meals available during the closure. More information will be sent in the coming days.
As an additional note, Capital Region BOCES CTE and Special Education programs will not be operating March 16-20.
As Gov. Andrew Cuomo stated during his press conference today, school superintendents have the ability to decide to close their school districts, and the superintendents of our region have made that determination.
The New York State Education Department continues to work with the governor’s office, the New York State Department of Health and the U.S. Department of Education to provide guidance to our schools around issues such as instructional time and test scheduling.
This situation is very fluid and could change as we continue to work with our local departments of health and New York State Department of Health.
The most current and accurate information about the coronavirus can be found on the NYS Department of Health website.
Thank you for your continued patience and partnership, and we will provide you with more information as soon as we can.
Jennifer Spring, Ed.D.
Superintendent