Dear Parents/Guardians:
I would like to provide a quick update, as well as ask for your help.
On January 11, Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente reported our region’s COVID-19 positivity rate declined for the first time since November. However, while encouraging, our positivity rate is still incredibly high - around 10 percent. 
Currently, we are aware of 25 students and five staff members who are in isolation due to testing positive or in quarantine due to being a close contact. Having accurate and up-to-date information is critical as we try to determine when to resume in-person instruction. My sense is the number of students and staff in isolation or quarantine is much higher, but that can’t be confirmed unless you communicate with us. So, if your child has tested positive and is isolated, or was a close contact and is in quarantine, please let us know by contacting your child’s school nurse. I understand some may not be comfortable sharing this information, but it’s the only way we, as a district, can make informed decisions. When in-person instruction resumes, it is important that you continue to communicate this information as well.
Moving forward, I will continue to closely monitor data and consult with our medical director, incredibly dedicated staff and the Oneida County Department of Health to determine when it is safe to resume in-person instruction. I know the constant uncertainty causes stress and makes planning ahead difficult. I would like nothing more than to have everyone return to school, but I need to make sure we can keep everyone safe. Making the decision more difficult is the high positivity rate, limited supply of vaccines and number of students and staff with compromised immune systems. We don’t want to resume in-person instruction too soon and jeopardize someone’s health.
Based on current data, I’m thinking the week of January 18 may be too soon to resume in-person instruction, but a final decision will be made by Friday, January 15. Again, your help with sharing information is important.
Please know I don’t take this decision lightly, and I understand the disappointment and incredible uncertainty everyone feels.
Thank you for your help and continued support.
Sincerely,
Rocco Migliori
Superintendent of Schools