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The state

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The state Education Department and state Department of Health released updated guidance to schools on Monday amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

The guidance includes a new requirement that districts “close for 24 hours if a student or staff member attended school prior to being confirmed as a positive COVID-19 patient,” Education Department Interim Commissioner Shannon Tahoe said in a statement on the department’s website.

“That investigation will inform the plan determined by the local department of health as to any further required closure, or other necessary precautions to take for specific classrooms, or for specific individuals.”

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Saranac Lake

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Saranac Lake Superintendent Diane Fox said the school district has no plan to shut down as of now, but it is cutting back on its events and public gatherings and has a contingency plan if the schools do close.

In a letter that was sent out to parents, it said starting Monday, March 16 and going until April 20, there will be no more large gatherings outside of school hours such as concerts, athletic contests and out-of-state travel for large student groups, guest speakers, large gatherings during school hours such as assemblies.

Small afterschool clubs, department meetings, local field trips and sports practices will continue as normal.

The annual Individual Education Plan conferences will be held by phone instead of in person.

Fox said the district’s custodial staff is also increasing its cleaning efforts.

If a closure lasts more than 24 hours, teachers from kindergarten through fifth grade will hand out three-day home study packets. Those teachers will be available by phone if there are any questions. If the closure lasts more than three days, the district transportation system will deliver school assignments to each student.

For students grades six through 12, they would do homework and lessons via their Chromebooks. The district is exploring ways to reach students who do not have internet access at home.

Fox said the school district provides more to students than just education.

“In uncertain times like these, I am reminded that our district schools serve several important functions in our community,” she said. “In addition to educating students, they are key to meeting basic needs like nutrition and care for many young people. Families count on us to keep their children safe during the day so they can report to their jobs. A large number of parents in our area work in the healthcare field. We do not want parents to have to choose between reporting to their jobs — especially those who are critical to the healthcare system — or caring for their children. We want to provide as much support to families as possible while at the same time do everything we can to keep our community safe.”

Forty percent of Saranac Lake students rely on the district’s food service for breakfast and lunch. If the school closes, the district would not provide food on that first day. Food would be available the second day, and the transportation system and cafeteria staff would work in tandem to deliver two-day supplies of food.

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Tupper Lake

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The Tupper Lake Central School district was not able to be contacted Thursday, but has not announced any differences in its current policies. School is carrying on as usual with faculty taking extra care to clean and wipe down surfaces, and teach hygiene.

Superintendent’s Conference Day, March 20, was cancelled regionally. According to a Facebook post from Superintendent Seth McGowan on Thursday, school will now be in session as a regular academic day that day.

“It gives us the opportunity to recapture an instructional day,” McGowan wrote.

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Northwood School

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Northwood School, a Lake Placid-based private boarding school, announced Thursday it would be sending students home and transitioning to online distance learning.

Head of School Michael Maher said the school would “cease all on-campus programming and transition all instruction online” as of Thursday.

“Tomorrow (Friday) we will prepare students for online learning and assist them with their travel arrangements,” he wrote in a letter to the school community. “Student departures may begin as early as 2:00 pm.”

Northwood classes were set to resume online starting Wednesday, March 18 — then resume on-campus again on Monday, April 27, which Maher said would “leave four weeks for classes, AP exams, and other year-end activities, including commencement and LEAP.”

“Of course, resuming on-campus programming at that time depends on the status of the coronavirus,” he added. “We will monitor the situation closely and communicate regularly with everyone in the Northwood community.

“We come to this decision with mixed emotions. We believe it is the most effective approach to protect our students, faculty, and families. This allows us to do our part to contain, prepare for and cope with the spread of the virus.”

Maher said Northwood is “fully equipped to migrate” to online classes.

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Lake Placid

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The Lake Placid Central School District has updated its website to include information about the coronavirus and the district’s recommendations to its students and staff.

“While there are no confirmed cases within our school district or in Essex County we, along with our neighboring school districts, are making preparations in case that changes,” the page reads. “We continue to encourage students and staff to stay home when sick, cover coughs and sneezes appropriately, avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth, to practice regular and thorough handwashing with soap and water, and make use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers.

“Within the schools, we are continuing our regular cleaning and disinfecting of frequently touched surfaces and objects like tables, doorknobs, toys, desks, and computer keyboards. We are making hand sanitizer readily available throughout our facilities. We are cleaning and disinfecting the interior surfaces of our buses. We continue to monitor attendance, and to inform staff and students about safe and best practices for staying healthy.

“Should our schools have to close our teachers are prepared to continue guiding student learning using distance education approaches, including online strategies, that we are in the process of developing,” the district added. “We know that any disruption to school schedules also disrupts families, child care efforts, work schedules, and meal availability. We will do our best to provide whatever support we can to students and families as we adapt to the changing circumstances. Our mission of educating students to achieve their academic, physical and social potential is deeply important to all of us, but we cannot ensure this mission without a safe and healthy school environment. As the situation continues to change we all need to be prepared for adjustments. We ask for your support, cooperation, and flexibility as we move forward.”

The Lake Placid High School Olympiad team recently had to stay home after the New York State Science Olympiad decided to cancel the tournament amid public health concerns, NBC5 reported Monday.

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AuSable Valley

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Like Lake Placid, the AuSable Valley Central School District has also updated its website with coronavirus information.

Superintendent Paul Savage issued a letter to students about the district’s response this past Friday. In the letter, Savage said the district was fortunate to have custodial workers who “already utilize strong practices for preventing the spread of virus,” practices he said have “proven useful during past virus outbreaks (SARS, H1N1).” He said the district’s faculty and staff also work with students to promote good hygiene.

“Ultimately, no one knows how extensive this outbreak will be, or if/how our region will be affected,” he said. “We will continue to monitor this matter closely, and will react as appropriate. At this point, there are no changes in our district-wide attendance policy. Excused student absences need to be supported by a doctor’s note.”

The school advised students who are ill to stay home.

Keene Central

Keene Central School District administrators had an internal meeting Thursday regarding the coronavirus.

Superintendent Dan Mayberry said the district is working on a plan.

“We’re examining what our options are. We’re mostly waiting for direction from New York state,” he said. “We’re focusing right now on prevention and how to keep yourself as healthy as possible … Make sure you wash your hands. If you’re sick, stay home for your safety and everyone else’s.”

As spring break approaches, Mayberry said the school hasn’t made a determination yet on its guidance for international students studying at the district.

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Colleges

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Starting March 19, SUNY and CUNY schools could transition classes to online and videoconference until the end of the semester as a way to avoid spreading the novel coronavirus. Many private colleges are doing the same, including in the North Country.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the distance-learning initiative Wednesday at a news conference about steps the state is taking to contain the virus. The disease it causes, COVID-19, was declared a pandemic that day by the World Health Organization. There are about 80 schools in the SUNY and CUNY systems, and they educate hundreds of thousands of students.