Keene Central School Principal Bob Woughter (Provided photo)

On March 18, the state Education Department, following Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s March 16 Executive Order 202.4, required all school districts, charter schools and non-public schools close for two weeks until March 31. That date has since been extended to April 19 and is likely to be extended again.

Keene Central School, like others across the region and state, is wrestling with the outcome of that order and struggling to provide an ongoing quality education for their students.

Their planning began before the governor’s executive order, even before the all 16 school districts in the Champlain Valley Educational Services BOCES District — including KCS –agreed on Sunday, March 15 to shut down immediately until April 20.

Fortunately, school officials anticipated that a school closure might be coming and sent the students home days before with all their computers, i-Pads and textbooks just in case it came to fruition.

The other bit of good news is thanks to an effort led by Jim Herman and Dave Mason over a decade ago;, high-speed internet reaches every home with a family in the town of Keene, facilitating a teacher’s ability to communicate the students and their parents.

Keene Central School Superintendent Dan Mayberry (Provided photo)

Another bright spot is school secretary Cindy Summo, who is doing her best to create a sense of normalcy through posting daily school announcements and other activities that help the kids feel connected. Before the closure, high school senior Charlotte Ward opened the announcements with a song and organized background music while third graders announced birthdays and any pronouncements that the teachers might have along with a quote of the day.

“I felt that we still need to get announcements out to help motivate the kids,” said Summo, who now creates and sends out daily videos. “I felt they are at home missing hearing their and their teachers’ birthdays being announced and all that. So I decided to keep it going. When I am at home, I have a flag so that I can lead the pledge to the flag even from there. When I am at school, I try to grab someone to assist me. Dan (Mayberry, superintendent) has helped. So has Val (McDonough, bus driver ), Natalie (Buysee, receptionist), and whoever else is in.”

Summo said that her daughter, a senior, is doing the best she can, though she misses interacting with her schoolmates and teachers. Summo said her daughter participates in a New Visions program that has included clinicals and other activities at the Elizabethtown hospital. The program, led by Dr. Todd Menia, is in the process of being continued through video conferencing. She said normally there are activities held in the spring that acknowledge senior accomplishments that are in doubt, activities like a senior trip and a talent show. Summo hopes that they’ll be able to reorganize and hold them before graduation.

Another critical aspect of the school is providing breakfast and lunches for the students that, for many families, is a vital resource made more so now. As a means of continuing that need, Superintendent Mayberry sent out a letter letting all families know that whoever wishes to receive breakfast and lunches is eligible to have a week’s worth delivered once a week, or they can pick them up at the school. They may sign up at any time. For those picking up their food, it is brought outside and left by the door.

“The biggest challenge for our faculty, students, and their families is that we have to create a whole new learning environment,” said Mayberry. “There has been a tremendous shift and a huge responsibility in shifting the learning to a home setting. I know from my children that that’s a very big change. It’s a whole new world. I think it’s a lot harder than people believe it to be. Homeschooling is not easy. When you are used to walking into a classroom every day and now having to do it remotely, things are going to be completely different.”

Parents didn’t sign on to be teachers. In many families, both worked, did or are now trying to work from home with the added challenge of learning how to assist their kids in courses such as math and science that have radically shifted since they were young. Classes no longer take place at the same time each day as they once did; it all depends on the grade level, class and teacher. The early grades are not fully online. Packets of educational materials were sent home with the children, and they have been receiving weekly updates, as is true with all the grades.

The students are given assignments that have to be accomplished within a certain period of time, as learning works best when it takes place on a regular basis over time. Video chats are being set up so that students can interact with their teachers and classmates. Add to that, no one knows how long this will last. If it would be a couple of weeks, not such a challenge. If it turns into months and possibly to the end of the school year, that’s a much bigger task. Another being discussed by supervisors is how do they provide food service if there is a COVID-19 outbreak in their community and within the school. Protection and prevention are a priority.

“The Friday before the governor closed all the schools, we had a feeling that we wouldn’t be back in session,” said Bob Woughter, K-12 principal. “We sent students home with their devices and textbooks just on the off chance we wouldn’t be returning, and they did not. We did a survey and learned how outstandingly well connected our community is through the internet. That’s so beneficial with our students and teachers working from home; it’s greatly enhanced our ability to teach and engage the kids.”

They do not use one method of distance learning. Each teacher determines what works best for them and their students and their families. Most students and faculty use Google Classrooms as it allows teachers to upload documents and hold video sessions. Everyone can chat with each other, and it protects the privacy of the participants, a primary concern. Spring break was canceled because the governor and educators feel the structured time and continuity with the youth is more important at this time as a means of keeping the kids emotionally safe.

Woughter said the parents appreciate how engaged the teachers are with their children, how well they know them. Kids miss one another. They miss the social contacts and the structure of a 10-period day. Students also miss the interaction between the grades where the upper-class students often mentor those in middle and elementary school, a hallmark of the Keene educational experience where everyone is in one building.

“It’s an awkward time for them, but they are far more connected than we were at that age,” said Woughter. “Staff misses each other too; they miss talking with each other and working collaboratively.”

“I want to thank everyone in the greater Keene community for their continued support as we struggle through this challenging time and the uncertainties that lie ahead,” said Mayberry. “We appreciate every bit of help people have given us in the past and their willingness to reach out and help us.”