Based on the guidelines released by the New York State Education Department, Monroe One BOCES has established a preliminary reopening plan for the 2020-21 school year.

Determinations will be made by region about opening and closing schools as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

• This includes meeting updated guidelines on infection rate and testing requirements, according to the state's Micro-Cluster Strategy.
• These reopening plans will continually be evaluated and updated in accordance with local, state and federal guidelines.

The most up-to-date information about reopening will be posted to the district website and shared with families and staff via email and other methods of communication.

In October, Governor Cuomo announced a new cluster action initiative to address COVID-19 hot spots that have popped up around the state. The initiative divides clusters and the areas around them into three categories – the cluster itself (red zone), a warning zone (orange zone), and a precautionary zone (yellow zone).

Yellow Zone Designation: occurs when average positivity rate is above 3% for 10 days

• District may remain open but must begin mandatory testing immediately
• District required to test 20% of in-person students, teachers and staff at each school, at least once a week for as long as the region remains in a designated yellow zone
• Example: the first 20% of all hybrid students and staff would be tested on week one of yellow zone designation, the second 20% of all hybrid students and staff would be tested on week two of yellow zone designation, etc. After five weeks, the first group is tested again if the region is still under the yellow designation

Orange Zone Designation: occurs when average positivity rate is above 4% for 10 days

Red Zone Designation: occurs when average positivity rate is above 5% for 10 days

• District must remain closed for at least four (4) calendar days after the zone designation is announced
• District may re-open as early as the fifth day after the zone is designated, only after 100% of students, faculty, and staff provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test result
• Upon reopening, district will continue intensive daily health screening for all hybrid in-person students and staff
• Upon reopening, district required to test 25% of in-person students, teachers and staff, at least once a week for as long as the region remains in a designated orange or red zone
• Example: the first 25% of all hybrid students and staff would be tested on week one of orange/red zone designation, the second 25% of all hybrid students and staff would be tested on week two of orange/red zone designation, etc. After four weeks, the first group is tested again if the region is still under the orange/red designation.

Once our region is given one of these zone designations, there are certain requirements districts must meet in order to stay open for or return to in-person instruction.

Micro-Cluster Strategy Explained

The New York State Department of Health requires districts to have plans in place for three instruction models: in-person, remote and hybrid.

In-person

All Monroe One BOCES students and staff will attend school in person up to five (5) days per week (required for all students attending in person: masks, social distancing and/or other PPE as required by NYSDOH)

Remote

All Monroe One BOCES students will take part in full-time remote instruction online with teachers delivering course content to students remotely

Hybrid

Mon/Tues:

Group A students attend school in person;
Group B students learn remotely

Wed:

All students learn remotely

Thurs/Fri:

Group B students attend school in person;
Group A students learn remotely