The Weedsport Central School District is working to develop reopening plans for the 2020-21 school year in compliance with state guidance. Like all districts in the state, Weedsport must develop a written reopening plan. The details of these plans will be different for each district, but Weedsport is required to follow guidelines from the New York State Education Department (NYSED) and interim guidance from the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH). Plans are due to the state by July 31.

District leaders are looking from input from key stakeholders and have reached out to staff and parents through a survey.

“Additionally, the administrative team is reaching out to our key internal allies from all departments (custodial, technology, health, counselors, food service, transportation, and faculty) to have them reflect on the NYSED and NYSDOH guidelines for reopening, and engage in a collaborative thought process. Given that input and the results derived from our surveys of staff and parents, we will be able to develop a foundational plan with corners that will need to be smoothed out in August,” said superintendent Shaun O’Connor.

“We want to make these key stakeholders part of the process. We expect to use this inclusive approach to create a structure we can implement in September.”

Over the next few weeks, district leaders will provide essential, ongoing information to the school community regarding reopening. The information will be brief in nature and most will be pulled from the mandatory guidelines provided by either the NYSED or NYSDOH and will be embedded in the reopening plan.

O’Connor said, “Our intent is to inform and not alarm. The aim is to be transparent and provide insight into what our educational stakeholders can expect school to “look like” in the fall.

One can expect the following information to be part of the reopening plan:

1. Students will be required to wear masks on school buses.
2. If a student does not have a mask, one will be provided to the student each week.
3. Once seated in the classroom and with social distancing in place, students can remove masks.
4. Parents are asked to check the child’s temperature at home prior to arriving at school.
5. Additionally, students will have their temperatures checked with a non-contact thermometer upon entering school daily.