May 4, 2020


To all Monroe One BOCES families, teachers and staff members:

 

As you may be aware, Governor Cuomo has announced all New York State Schools will remain closed for the rest of the academic year. Our programs will continue to provide distance learning and support for the remainder of the academic year.

 

The state will make a decision about summer school programming by the end of May. For us, this decision will affect our Extended School Year (ESY) and Regional Summer School programs.

 

As there are many things yet to be determined, we will communicate new information as it becomes available.

 

I am extremely grateful to all of you for your patience and resiliency. It is easy during this time to feel isolated and worried. Please utilize the helpful resources on our website: https://www.monroe.edu/coronavirusresources. Always remember, we are in this together (view video).

 

Please continue to stay safe and calm, and help others to do so as well.

 

Daniel White

Monroe One BOCES District Superintendent

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April 17, 2020


To all Monroe One BOCES families, teachers and staff members:

 

Governor Cuomo has announced all New York State schools will remain closed through May 15, 2020.

 

Monroe One will continue to provide additional updates and resources as they become available.

 

Please know that navigating these uncertain times may lead to increase stress or anxiety. If you or your family need support, you can call the NYS Emotional Support Hotline at 1-844-863-9314 for free and confidential mental health counseling. For additional resources that may help you during this time, please visit monroe.edu/coronavirusresources.

 

Though we have all been affected by this pandemic in different ways, by supporting one another, we will get through this together.

 

Please be well.

 

Daniel White

Monroe One BOCES District Superintendent

 

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April 8, 2020

To all Monroe One BOCES families, teachers and staff members:

As you may already know, Governor Cuomo has ordered an extension of the school closings in New York State. Monroe One BOCES and all public schools will remain closed through April 29, 2020, to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Monroe One continues to monitor for new developments and will provide you with further updates and resources as often as possible. While these are unprecedented times, know that we will get through this together. For additional resources that may help you during this time, please visit https://www.monroe.edu/coronavirusresources.

Please continue to stay calm, help others stay calm, and be well.

Daniel White

Monroe One BOCES District Superintendent

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Schools to Remain Closed until April 15

March 27, 2020

Childcare Assistance for our Essential Health Care Workers and First Responders
 

In response to NYSED guidance regarding school closures due to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in New York, Monroe One BOCES has developed this page to inform you of area daycare providers for essential health care workers and first responders. 

During this health emergency, the services of our health care workers and first responders are desperately needed.

The YMCA of Greater Rochester is working with the Monroe County School Superintendents to serve families in need.

View this information on emergency childcare options provided by the YMCA of Greater Rochester. Or visit the YMCA website.

Information on support in the form of subsidies that you may need for childcare can be found here.

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March 18, 2020

Governor Cuomo recently signed an executive order directing all schools to be closed for at least two weeks beginning Wednesday, March 18 through Wednesday, April 1.

This means Monroe One BOCES will remain closed to students. However, the opening date could be pushed back depending on the constantly changing situation surrounding COVID-19, known as the coronavirus.

We will continue to monitor new developments and take direction from local and state health officials. With their guidance, we will continue to provide you weekly updates as we get a better understanding of when schools will officially reopen.

Thank you for your continued understanding and patience as we all navigate this together.

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March 14, 2020

updated March 15, 2020

Due to the local state of emergency issued this morning, Monroe One BOCES will be closed to students beginning Monday, March 16 until further notice.

This is a precautionary measure to limit the spread of illness.

All classes and school-sanctioned events are suspended. No outside visitors will be allowed and facility use will be limited.

At this time, there is not a definitive date for when schools will re-open to students. Monroe One will be in constant communication with local health officials and other school districts.

We will be reviewing the status of the school closing on a weekly basis, and will send out a decision for the following week by mid-day every Friday.

 

Parents:

• Additional information will be sent through U.S. Post from your child’s program principal regarding access to medication, supplemental education opportunities and resources.
  
  

Staff:

• The building will be open on Monday during regular school hours for 10 month staff members who need to gather personal items or provide their supervisors with supplemental education activities for their students.
  
  
• All 12 month employees are asked to report on Monday, March 16 to meet with their supervisors.
  
  
• Starting Tuesday, March 17 access to the building will be limited to essential 12 month employees, as identified by their supervisors.

 

We encourage families to continue taking steps to minimize the spread of all respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19. The New York State Department of Health recommends the following:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
  
  
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
  
  
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  
  
• Stay home when you are sick.
  
  
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  
  
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. 
  
  

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COVID-10 Leveled Response Plan (pdf)

Monroe One BOCES and all Monroe County Schools continue to actively monitor the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) with guidance from the New York State and Monroe County Departments of Health. The safety of our students and staff is of the utmost importance and we will act out of an abundance of caution to protect everyone’s health and wellbeing.

Monroe One BOCES is currently operating at a LEVEL 2 as detailed below.

This is a rapidly changing situation. School districts have been advised to prepare for COVID-19 and monitor illness among students and staff.

Preventing the spread of illness is a community responsibility and we encourage you and your children to practice the following healthy habits:

• Frequent handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Cover coughs or sneezes with your elbow.
• Stay home when sick and seek medical attention when necessary.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces such as counters, phones, door knobs and light switches.
  
  

As recommended by the New York State Department of Health, schools are taking additional precautions now to mitigate illness transmissions. If students or staff develop symptoms that include fever and cough during the day they will be isolated from others and will be triaged according to established protocols. We have also stepped up routine cleaning procedures in classrooms, on buses, and in bathrooms.

In situations like these, rumors may cause unnecessary reactions and panic. Therefore, we encourage you to get information from credible sources. The New York State Department of Health has established a webpage with updates, key messages, frequently asked questions, travel advisories and more at https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/coronavirus/.

We will continue to post updates online at Monroe.edu/CoronavirusResources

Together, we can work to maintain a healthy learning environment.

LEVEL 1 – Monitoring
(no cases in Monroe County)

• More frequently clean common areas including countertops, door hardware, bus seats, etc.
• Communicate online and to campuses the precautions to avoid spreading COVID-19
• Continue to monitor attendance and communicate with Monroe County Department of Health
• Communicate to families/staff to stay home if sick
• Monitor illness among students and staff
• Review and update emergency plans
• Begin bi-weekly departmental briefings for communication updates
• Potentially limit all unnecessary travel
• Potentially limit large gatherings to only essential events or consider postponing essential events

LEVEL 2 - Containment
(cases identified in Monroe County)

• Ramp up cleaning efforts to expand to cleaning less frequently used areas in addition to common areas
• Potentially limit/restrict outside visitors and guests
• Develop contingency plans and review business continuation plan
• Continue all Level 1 activities

LEVEL 3 - Mitigation
(confirmed cases among students/staff)

• Affected school(s) will close for 24-hours while the local department of health investigates and sets forth a plan for further precautionary measures that the school must take to limit exposure, which may include additional closure
• Potentially cancel all district events (athletics, fine arts, etc.)
• In the event of extended campus closures, communicate to families about schoolwork accommodations and access points for supports such as supplemental food and supplies
• Communicate to staff about which staff members are to report in order to maintain services and which can work from home
• Perform a deep clean of all areas
  
  

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March 3, 2020

updated March 12, 2020

Dear Monroe One BOCES families, students and staff:

Monroe One BOCES is aware of concerns in the community about the spread of COVID-19, caused by the novel coronavirus, in our schools. There have been no reported cases in any school in New York State. However, the Monroe County Department of Health has confirmed the first positive case of COVID-19 in Monroe County.

That individual, a Rochester man, is reported to be in involuntary isolation at home. 

We are closely monitoring this quickly changing situation and are following guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), the Monroe County Department of Health and the New York State Education Department.

Symptoms:

• mild to severe respiratory illness
• fever
• cough
• shortness of breath
  
  

If Monroe One becomes aware that a student or staff member is diagnosed with COVID-19, it will immediately notify staff, parents/guardians and the Monroe County Health Department. If a student or staff member shows respiratory symptoms, we will follow the protocol as stated by the NYS Department of Health for handling this type of respiratory illness, subject to any additional guidance forthcoming.

Monroe One BOCES has infectious disease protocols in place and has been taking steps, such as cleaning and disinfecting throughout its schools, to minimize the spread of viruses and a variety of other illnesses. 

There are a number of steps that students, staff and community members can take to minimize the spread of all respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19, according to the State Department of Health:  

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, with at least 60% alcohol. Heavily soiled hands should be washed.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
  
  

If you or a family member begin showing symptoms of a respiratory disease and suspect it may be COVID-19, contact your healthcare provider. Before going to your healthcare provider’s office, inform them that a case of COVID-19 is suspected, and follow their advice.

Local health departments will contact schools if a suspected or known COVID-19 case emerges. The district is prepared to work with any affected families.

In addition, New York has established a Novel Coronavirus Hotline, which can provide additional information. Call 1-888-364-3065 with questions or concerns about travel and symptoms.

Monroe One will continue to share information as it becomes available.

Please know that, as always, the health and safety of our students and staff is our highest priority, and we will remain vigilant in our efforts to help prevent the spread of this illness.

If you have any questions, please contact the Monroe County Department of Health at 585-753-2991 or visit the county's DOH website.

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