Poughkeepsie Schools To Begin 2020-21 Classes Remotely

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY — Students in the city of Poughkeepsie district will be taking classes remotely in September. According to a letter to the parents, Superintendent Dr. Eric Jay Rosser said it was not an easy decision to make.

"Over the past several weeks the Poughkeepsie City School District has engaged in the process of evaluating which instructional delivery model (i.e. in-person, distance learning, hybrid) would be deployed in the opening of schools in September," he wrote.

Rosser said the decision to open the district Sept. 10 with remote instruction was based largely on almost 58 percent of parents who responded to a reopening survey. They indicated that they prefer that model for their children.

"Additional factors that informed this decision included a great need to guarantee that the safety and health of students ad staff will be protected while high-quality instruction is being provided in school and needing additional time to address this need under the school reopening requirements of the New York State Department of Health and the New York State Education Department," he said.

For the 2020-21 academic year, Chromebooks, musical instruments and other instructional supplies will be distributed to students and families.

Multiple opportunities will be provided to parents and students to better understand how to navigate the online learning environment, and faculty and administrators will take part in professional development and collaborate with others to improve online teaching practices.

Rosser said that, through the month of September, the district will evaluate the readiness of in-person instruction and will provide an update to parents on Oct. 1.

He said that faculty and staff will continue preparing for the return of students to in-school instruction by implementing reopening protocols, securing necessary personal protective and cleaning equipment and working with parents and the community to make the transition of students back into the schools successful.

"Working together, I am confident that our children will attain the academic, social, emotional and wellness success they deserve as future citizens and leaders of our community," Rosser said.

For more information on Poughkeepsie's school reopening, visit the district website.

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