SARATOGA COUNTY — In a letter to Governor Kathy Hochul and Commissioner Mary T. Bassett, the 31 Superintendents of Schools in the WSWHE BOCES region are advocating for a “Pathway to Normalcy” for their students.
“In speaking with our families, the consistent message we receive is how they need to get back to normal. Frankly, they need more consistency from their schools, and we agree with that concept,” states the letter, dated Jan. 27, and signed by Andrew Cook, Superintendent of the Hartford Central School District. “Therefore, we are asking the state to consider working with school leaders to develop a ‘Pathway to Normalcy’.”
Two key components that would help put the schools in our area on the “Pathway” are a “Roadmap to Masking” and “Seeing the Whole Student.”
Following the NYS Supreme Court Judge’s decision last week that ruled the mask mandate unconstitutional, there is a current stay on the mandate until Feb. 10 pending the decision of New York’s Appellate Court. The letter addresses the difficulties in enforcing the mask mandate in schools every day, and gives a possible solution:
“While we all understand the need for masking during high rates of transmission, providing specific metrics for when this requirement can be optional as transmission rates decrease or vaccination rates reach a certain threshold is essential to maintain our focus on teaching and learning.”
The Superintendents also direct attention to after school and extracurricular activities, and their importance now more than ever as essential components of education. However, the current guidelines in place, specifically regarding vaccination requirements, make participation a significant challenge. They are asking state leaders to keep the “whole student” in mind.
“We support and advocate vaccination efforts within our communities; however, there is a disconnect of logic between school day events (e.g., PE class, student group work) and after school events (e.g., chess club, athletics) which makes it very difficult to explain to our parents and caregivers.”
Additionally, the Superintendents also commend students and their families for their flexibility in following the ever-changing health & safety protocols to keep schools open for in-person learning.
The Governor and Commissioner have not yet issued a response to the letter.
A PDF of the letter can be viewed on the school websites of all the districts in WSWHE BOCES. Participating districts in Saratoga County are as follows: Ballston Spa Central School, Corinth Central School, Galway Central School, Mechanicville City School, Saratoga Springs City Schools, South Glens Falls Central School, and Stillwater Central School.
