Dear School Community:
We have made the very difficult decision to extend the transition to 100 percent remote instruction until January 11. Please watch my latest video message recorded on December 4 to learn more about our rationale for doing so.
In summary: 
Our goal from the start was to make sure we could offer in-person instruction in the safest environment possible. I think we did that masterfully for three months. However, with the COVID-19 positivity/infection rate and number of people in quarantine rising at an alarming rate, I question how much longer we can maintain our good fortune.
As of this writing, the three-day average of positive tests in Oneida County is more than 200 and the weekly positivity rate is 5.2 percent – the highest since the pandemic started in March. According to Governor Cuomo’s “micro-cluster” strategy, we should have already been declared a “yellow zone,” but for some unknown reason, that has yet to occur. Furthermore, the local health department is behind with contact tracing, so we have been forced to take on much of the contact tracing process and rely on self-reporting, which is not always fully accurate. The high number of asymptomatic people testing positive and the holiday season adds to my concern.
Under current protocols, if there is a positive case in a classroom, the entire class needs to quarantine for 14 days – regardless of social distancing and mask wearing – if exposure was more than 60 minutes. Given the current increase in positive cases, this could become a common occurrence, particularly in our elementary classrooms where students are together for longer periods of time. The resulting contact tracing, quarantining and shortage of substitutes would make it close to impossible to offer in-person instruction with any type of consistency.
So, again, the district will be 100 percent remote until January 11. While not the ideal method of instruction, it is the safest given the current circumstances, and will allow for more continuity and less disruption. Having already done it, we are also well equipped and poised to instruct remotely.
Please know the district will continue to provide the same essential services offered during in-person instruction, including the serving of lunch. If you would like your child to still receive school lunch during remote instruction, please call (315) 557-2630. The Church of Annunciation in Clinton is also distributing food to those in need on Monday, December 7, starting at 9:45 a.m.
In closing, I know the decision to go remote may cause hardship for many families, but it is solely about keeping everyone safe. Thank you for your understanding and support.
Please stay healthy.
Sincerely,
Rocco Migliori
Superintendent of Schools