Dear DCS Community:
I hope that you are all thawing out from last week. I wanted to share an update about some things currently going on:
Mask Mandate
At a press conference today, the governor indicated that the statewide indoor mask mandate for businesses will be repealed effective tomorrow, but the mask mandate for schools will remain in effect. The governor indicated that following the February school recess period, the state will evaluate metrics such as: (1) cases per 100,000; (2) percent positivity; (3) hospital admissions; (4) pediatric hospitalizations; (5) vaccinations; and (6) global trends, to determine next steps regarding universal masking in schools.
COVID-19 Test Kits Available
Our COVID-19 positivity rates have declined substantially, but rates have typically seen an uptick during and after holiday breaks. Please help us keep COVID rates in our schools down by requesting rapid tests from our nurses (nurses@duanesburg.org) and keeping your children home when they test positive. These tests are free of charge and can easily be sent home in a backpack upon request.
Universal Pre-Kindergarten
Did you know that Duanesburg CSD has offered a full-day prekindergarten program since 2019? Children who reside in the Duanesburg CSD and who will be four on or before December 1, 2022, are eligible to attend. Please contact Joanne Boyd (jboyd@duanesburg.org) if you have any questions or would like to register your child.
22-23 School Calendar
The calendar for the 22-23 school year was approved by the Board of Education at our last meeting. I have attached it to this message for your planning purposes, though all of these dates and the dates for other important events in our district next year will also be posted on the calendar on our district website.
22-23 School Budget
The District and Board of Education are in the process of workshopping the 22-23 budget at its meetings. At each of the next several Board of Education meetings, we will be discussing different sections of the budget. There will be Community Budget forums on April 12 and April 27 and a budget vote on May 17.
Best,
Dr. James Niedermeier
Superintendent