Dear Minisink Valley school community:

It’s been a long, challenging and, most importantly, extremely productive week for us as we continue to address the many issues tied to this extended school closure.

As we head into this weekend, I wanted to give you some updates that we learned today.

First, as most of you already know, Gov. Cuomo issued a March 18 order closing all schools through March 31, with a reopening currently scheduled for April 1. However, this is an extremely fluid reopening date. We will continue to provide updates as soon as we learn them.

Gov. Cuomo’s March 18 order

Today, we began our enhanced breakfast and lunch meal service, which will offered during this extended school closure, with faculty, staff,  administration and Board of Education members delivering over 2,000 meals to identified families who are in need because they don’t have transportation.

This is now a porch delivery drop-off every day, Monday through Friday.  Volunteers are in compliance with the social distancing requirements by knocking on doors and departing.

In an effort be proactive and prepared, families who believe they will need home delivery should call 355-5897 or email to: schoollunch@minisink.com.

Additionally, the following is a list of Grade 3 to 8 state assessments cancelled this year by the State Education Department:

• New York State Grades 3-8 English Language Arts Test
• New York State Grades 3-8 Mathematics Test
• New York State Grade 4 Elementary-Level Science Test
• New York State Grade 8 Intermediate-Level Science Test
• New York State English as a Second Language Achievement Test (NYSESLAT) in Grades K-12
• New York State Alternate Assessment (NYSAA) for students with severe cognitive disabilities in Grades 3-8 and high school.

We have not yet received any information on this June’s Regents examinations.  We ask for your continued patience as SED works though its decision making processes and we’ll let you know more when we are advised of their plans.

For students enrolled in AP courses, the College Board has advised that May exams will be taken online, in home, and exam modifications will cover material presented through March. Your child’s teacher will be communicating this information to them as more information becomes available.

The College Board

Please continue to motivate your children to use the materials provided to them to stay current with their studies. This is critically important, as you know.  The Minisink Valley Teachers’ Association has provided some useful tips to help and will be providing more in the days to come.

I wanted to thank you again for your continued support to our faculty, staff and administrators as we continue to successfully navigate what’s taking place in our nation.   There’s many questions that we don’t have answers to right now, but I know this community will get through this together.

Sincerely,

Brian C. Monahan
Superintendent