Dear MCS family and friends:

Throughout the summer, we have been tracking COVID-19 and the ongoing pandemic. We have been closely monitoring its possible impact on MCS while also waiting and looking for guidance from the State and Department of Health. We recently received guidance from the New York State Education Department on reopening our schools for the 2021-2022 school year. Our MCS reopening committee has been working on creating the best plan to ensure the safety of our students, faculty and staff, and families for the upcoming school year.

Our 2021-2022 reopening plan is almost identical to the 2020-2021 reopening plan, which was highly successful for MCS. Last year’s plan kept us open almost all year with a few blips. As a committee, we wanted to build off of this strong plan to ensure that 2021-2022 would be an even better year. There are a few differences between the two reopening plans.

● For the 2021-2022 school year, there is no option for remote or virtual learning. New York State did not approve this availability. All students will be back to school in the building full-time.

● There does not need to be social distancing on school transportation. However, due to regulations, any individual riding school transportation needs to wear a mask full-time.

● Social distancing has been lessened from 6-feet to 3-feet.

● Secondary students will be moving from class to class.

● Fall athletics are scheduled to proceed as they normally would.

● With the help of the Essex County Department of Health, we may be able to randomly screen interested individuals and test individuals who may be showing signs and symptoms of COVID. The committee did keep many essential aspects of last year’s plan in this year’s plan. Some of them are:

● Masks must be worn in the building at all times when social distancing cannot be maintained or if an individual is moving around the classroom/school.

● The daily Pinpoint screening will continue this year.

● MCS will continue to implement the cleaning and sanitizing procedures used throughout all of the 2020-2021 school year.

● Essex County Department of Health will still be the entity that determines if an individual is subject to quarantine, not the School. Our changes to the 2021-2022 reopening plan are attached. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me, and I will take the time necessary to answer all of your questions. As with last year, with your help, we will be able to reopen and keep open for the whole school year. Your commitment to the safety of our students/faculty/staff and our students’ education will make this another successful school year.

Thank you,

Kyle H. McFarland School Superintendent  

Minerva Central School and its reopening committee has been working all summer to develop a plan to safely return all students to in-person instruction for the 2021-2022 school year.  We have reviewed all relevant guidance from the Centers for Disease Control, the American Association of Pediatrics, and the NYS Education Department.  The committee met several times over the summer to develop the plan.  We believe we have developed a plan to keep our students and staff safe while providing our students with the quality instruction they deserve.

Click the link below for the 2021-2022 Reopening Guidance

Minerva Central School Reopening 2021-2022  

Guest Covid Wellness Check

Behavioral Counseling