Starting this fall, all Fayetteville-Manlius School District students will attend school in-person, five days a week for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic began.
During the Aug. 9 F-M Board of Education meeting, F-M Superintendent of Schools Craig J. Tice stated the district is planning for a full school reopening in September. In the absence of New York State Department of Health school reopening guidance, the district plans to exercise its due diligence in examining the different COVID-19 health and safety recommendations that have been referenced by the Centers for Disease Control, the American Academy of Pediatrics, Onondaga County Health Department, and the New York State Education Department.
The district will also seek input from its medical advisory task force, which formed last year to assist F-M with its school reopening plans. The group includes local health specialists and providers who reside in the school district.
“We know school reopening weighs heavily on our families’ minds and hearts,” Tice said. “This pandemic continues to affect everyone differently; it’s imperative we continue to focus on what’s best for the health and safety of our students, staff members and school community.”
F-M will not offer a virtual instruction model this year. Medically-fragile students have the option to enroll in Onondaga-Cortland-Madison BOCES’ fully-remote learning program, which requires a one-year, full-time commitment and operates separately from F-M with its own staff. A note from a physician will be required for students to be admitted to the OCM BOCES program.
If a student is placed in quarantine due to a possible COVID-19 exposure, they will be provided academic materials via Schoology or in print form, according to Tice.
The board will present final school reopening details, including information about mask-wearing and social distancing, during a special meeting held towards the end of August. The meeting date will be announced once it’s confirmed.
To watch the Aug. 9 board meeting in its entirety, please visit the district’s official YouTube channel.