March 30 COVID-19 update: Budget vote postponed until at least June 1; recreational spaces remain closed

Under an executive order from Gov. Andrew Cuomo, all New York state school budget votes originally scheduled for May 19 have been postponed until at least June 1.

The directive, which aims to limit the spread of COVID-19, also indefinitely postpones collection and filing of nominating petitions for school board elections and postpones library votes and municipal elections to at least June 1.

The district will provide more information about F-M’s annual school budget vote once it becomes available.

School playgrounds and fields remain closed

To comply with the Onondaga County Executive’s social distancing directives, F-M’s outdoor physical education spaces, recreational facilities and athletic fields remain closed until further notice.

This includes F-M school playgrounds, tennis courts and athletic fields. F-M High School’s athletic stadium, including its turf field and track are also closed.

In addition to the various deterrents used to secure or to limit access to these facilities, conspicuous signage has been posted authorizing law enforcement to intervene on behalf of the school district and to hold any trespassers accountable for their actions. 

The county order has been issued to help limit the spread of COVID-19. The district will notify community members once F-M’s facilities and fields reopen for public use.

State education department approves district’s emergency plans 

New York State Education Department recently approved the district’s plans for how it will provide learning opportunities, healthy meals and child care for its essential employees during the school closure.

The plans have been implemented districtwide and will remain in effect for the duration of the school closure.

Continued communications

The district will continue to update the community via the district website with any new information and frequently asked questions.  

Any time-sensitive, critical information will be shared via the district’s SchoolMessenger notification system, which sends email, text message and phone call notifications, depending upon how parents subscribed to the system.

More COVID-19 information and previous F-M COVID-19 communications