Important Information from Dr. Cook- December 2018 Newsletter

December 2018

Dear Catskill CSD Community:

As we approach the winter months, I would like to inform you of the procedures that will be used by the District to govern the closing or delay of schools when the weather makes traveling for staff and students dangerous.

The following will be implemented:

1.     Two-Hour Delay – a two-hour delay opening allows for snow removal and traffic clearance after evening snowfall or during relatively light storms.  In the event of a two-hour delay, there will be no AM pre-kindergarten or AM BOCES.  Please stay tuned for school messages following a delayed opening announcement in case of worsening conditions warranting school closing.

2.     School Closure – Schools will be closed due to storms severe enough that safe paths to school cannot generally be maintained.

3.     Early Dismissal – Early Dismissal is done only in the event of an unanticipated emergency.  On the occasion when an emergency dismissal is necessary, announcements will be made on television and made using the Blackboard Connect telephone service.  The District website will also display these announcements.  Utmost caution will be exercised by school staff in the event of an early dismissal.  Please know that in these instances school staff will remain at school until safe travel is provided for all students.  Please be sure your family has contingency plans for children sent home due to an early dismissal.

During each storm that arises, I begin checking road conditions as early as 3:00am in order to determine the County’s readiness to hold school.  I also confer with our transportation and buildings and grounds departments to determine our readiness to hold school.  If the schedule is to be altered, I will attempt to make announcements on the television (WRGB Channel 6, WTEN Channel 10, WNYT Channel 13), the Catskill Central School District’s website (https://catskillcsd.org), and over the Blackboard Connect telephone service as early as possible.  Our judgment in those circumstances will be based on the best information available at that time about road conditions throughout the area.  The safety of our students and staff are our top priority.

In closing, Friday, December 21, 2018 is a half day of school for all students. Please be reminded that our secondary students will be dismissed at 10:30am, while our elementary students will be dismissed at 11:30am. Schools will be closed for the week of December 24th through December 28, 2018. Our schools will reopen on Wednesday, January 2, 2019.  I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our Catskill Central School District families a safe and happy holiday season.

Respectfully,

Dr. Ronel Cook

Superintendent of Schools

Posted in District.