Ossining Will Start School Year Remotely

OSSINING, NY — In a letter Tuesday to parents, Ossining schools superintendent Ray Sanchez announced that the district will start remote instruction Sept. 9 and delay bringing students in to classrooms until the week of Sept. 21.

"While it was our hope to bring in students beginning September 8th, the road to reopening has been a challenging process," he said. "Throughout this process, we have dedicated ourselves to ensuring that we open safely and provide a quality education for all children. I am proud of all the work our district team has accomplished. However, after much deliberation, listening and consultation with various stakeholders (Board of Education, staff, families and students), I have determined that we will begin the school year in remote learning."

During these upcoming days, school officials intend to:

• Finalize plans to offer free WiFi spots in the schools for students.
• Distribute necessary supplies (books, computers).
• Provide information about how students can access their virtual classes.

Sept. 8 will be used to work with the staff and will be a non-instructional day.

According to the letter, Ossining officials will use the time the same way many other local districts have decided: dealing with employee issues including training and practicing new protocols; finalizing workplace accommodations; and providing additional professional development for staff.

In addition, district staff will be working on parent requests for remote learning, finalizing bus routes, and working with families and students on skills and tools for successful virtual/hybrid learning.

Two weeks later, students will attend as they have been assigned:

Park, Brookside, Claremont, and Roosevelt Hybrid:

• During the week of Sept. 21, all of the students assigned to the Monday/Tuesday (9/21 and 9/22) cohort, as well as all the students assigned to the Thursday/Friday (9/24 and 9/25) cohort, attend on their respective days.

Anne M. Dorner Middle School and Ossining High School:

• During the week of Sept. 21, school officials will phase in the live instruction at AMD and OHS (Secondary Only) by having 25 percent of students attend each day. Building principals will send information that will help clarify each child’s schedule.

Wednesdays for All Buildings:

• All students will be virtual with some exceptions. Additional information will be sent to specific families at a later date.

"I want to take a moment to thank you for your patience during this time. This is new territory for all of us, but I know we will all continue to make sure our students learn and grow," Sanchez said. "Please consider visiting our reopening website for additional information."

ALSO SEE:

Click here to view the district's FAQs.

Click here to view the calendar, which outlines the phase-in plan.

Click here to apply for the Mentor Ossining program.