The coronavirus has forced many schools to be closed for about a month already, and Governor Cuomo announced distance learning will continue through at least May 15.

It’s important to stay digitally connected to students while they are away from the classroom, superintendents say.

“We want to celebrate the abilities and the talent of our students and let them also have some of those opportunities to tell us what is it that you need? How can we better be preparing you for this time period right now,” said East Syracuse Minoa Central School District Superintendent Donna DeSiato.

It’s a time period unlike any other, away from school with just two months left in the academic year. Liverpool Superintendent Mark Potter says there’s a social component missing too.

“We’re trying to link together the academic requirements of our continuity of learning plan that the governor and the state education department requires us to have but in addition to that what can we do to reduce the anxiety of our kids and socially from a distance how are we helping our kids stay connected to one another,” said Potter.

It takes a village to keep students engaged at home. DeSiato is thankful for teachers and caregivers during the uncertainty.

“This is not an easy time,” said DeSiato. “And yet, the more that we can do to work through this together. We will get beyond this. We will get through this, but we’ll do this together and we’ll be stronger as a result of doing it together.”

The decision to keep schools closed is for the safety of everyone. The million dollar question is will there be school again this year?

“If I had a crystal ball and I really was thinking it was working, I would say we're probably not coming back this year,” said Potter.
Because work continued through spring break, schools only need four weeks of learning after May 15 to reach 180 days, Potter explained.

Administrators are working to make sure the class of 2020 looks back on the year fondly.