Capital Project

The East Greenbush CSD has proposed a $116 million capital project that, if approved by voters, would improve facilities and grounds at all seven schools at no additional cost to the local taxpayer. The proposed capital project will be a proposition on the School Budget Vote and Board Election ballot scheduled for Tuesday, May 21, 2024.

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East Greenbush CSD Remains Committed to In-Person Learning, Prepares Remote Learning Plan as Contingency

Jan 13, 2022 | Bell Top, Columbia, District, Genet, Goff, Green Meadow, Red Mill, Sutherland

The following message was emailed to families on Thursday, January 13.

Dear Parent/Guardian,

This winter has been an especially challenging time for schools across the country, and the East Greenbush Central School District is no different. The Omicron variant has led to a surge of cases in our community which is affecting school operations on a daily basis.

We are extremely proud of our employees who continue to go above and beyond for students to ensure in-person learning continues in the safest way possible. If this pandemic has taught us anything, it is that children learn best when they are in school with their teachers and classmates. Our students are gaining academically and socially by coming to school each day.  A shift to remote learning would only occur in our school district as a last resort, a least favored option based on staff shortages.

The increases in COVID cases after the holiday recess has led to staff shortages in all departments and school buildings over the past month. Bus drivers, teachers, teaching assistants, administrators, counselors, monitors, food service staff, clerical staff and nurses – all of our employee groups – are experiencing significant increases in absences due to COVID-19. 

The district has a comprehensive employee recruitment effort. However, the problem is exacerbated by national shortages of employees in several important areas.

We are hopeful that the situation with staff shortages will improve as officials have predicted that cases may have peaked in New York State and the rate of community infection may diminish by the end of the month. The district would switch to remote learning only if we cannot transport students to and from school, cover classes or ensure safe supervision of students. If that were to occur, and when feasible, we would provide our families as much advance notice as possible.

As a school district, since the late Fall, we have taken steps to mitigate these staff shortages and remain open:

  • Implement 5-day isolation/quarantine policy adopted by the NYS Department of Health
  • Distribute free at-home rapid COVID-19 tests to all employees
  • Offer Point of Care testing to employees who become symptomatic at school
  • Shift staffing to cover classes with administrators, teaching assistants, AIS teachers and support service providers
  • Ask teaching assistants, food service workers and clerical employees to help with lunch supervision and other duties 
  • Adjust bus routes and have CDL-licensed mechanics and transportation office staff fill in as substitute bus drivers
  • Continue recruiting substitute teachers, bus drivers and other critical support staff

While the East Greenbush Central School District is committed to continue full time in-person learning, we have created a Remote Learning Plan so we can be prepared to change instructional models if needed. A switch to remote learning could be used should staff shortages become untenable and the shift would only occur for a short period of time as we monitor employees’ resolution of illness and their return to work consistent with state policies.

In general, the plan would have students utilize their district-issued chromebooks at home and have live virtual instruction led by teachers. As occurs within the classroom each day, teachers would be provided with the discretion to determine various formats for instruction including direct instruction, individual assignments and group work.

To reiterate, we are not currently considering a switch to remote learning, but we feel it is important to be prepared should the need arise. We will do everything possible to maintain in-person learning for our students and families.

We are meeting regularly with the county health department, the Questar Health and Safety team, other local school districts and communicating with our medical director to review policies and updated information regarding COVID-19.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we navigate this ongoing pandemic and its impact on our school operations. As always, we will communicate any updates with families moving forward.

Remote Learning Plan
The purpose of sharing this plan with families is so you can be prepared should we need to temporarily switch to remote learning.

Grades 6-12

  • At the middle school and high school level, students and teachers would follow the current master schedule in place for the 2021-22 school year unless otherwise advised by administration.

Columbia High School – Remote Schedule

Academic Assistance – Teachers available remotely for students if needed 7:10-7:20 am
Period 1 7:25-8:10 am
Period 2 8:15-9:00 am
Period 3 9:05-9:50 am
Period 4 9:55-10:40 am
Period 5 10:45-11:30 am
Period 6 11:35 am-12:20 pm
Period 7 12:25-1:10 pm
Period 8 1:15-2:03 pm
Announcements – Would be via email if needed

 

Goff Middle School – Remote Schedule

Homebase – Teachers available remotely for students if needed 7:40-7:55 am
Period 1 7:58-8:40 am
Period 2 8:43-9:25 am
Period 3 9:28-10:10 am
Period 4 10:13-10:55 am
Lunch – 7-1 10:35-10:55 am
Period 5 10:58-11:40 am
Lunch – 8-2 10:58-11:18 am
Lunch – 7-2 11:20-11:40 am
Period 6 11:43-12:24 pm
Lunch – 8-1 12:03-12:24 pm
Period 7 12:27-1:09 pm
Lunch – 6-1 12:27-12:47 pm
Lunch – 6-2 12:49-1:09 pm
Period 8 1:12-1:54 pm
Period 9 1:57-2:40 pm

 

Grades PK-5

  • At the PK-5 level, teachers will follow the PK-2 and 3-5 Schedules and expectations which were implemented in 2020-2021 and listed below.
    • Students will be required to participate in all remote learning activities and classes and will be required to complete assignments.
    • Attendance will be taken online.
    • Students can use a district provided device along with their personal East Greenbush CSD login.
    • Virtual Classrooms will receive grade level appropriate live (synchronous) instruction with a schedule provided by their teacher.
    • Virtual classroom norms will be established and distributed in accordance with the EGCSD Code of Conduct.
    • New York State Learning Standards will continue to be addressed.
    • Staff will follow EGCSD curriculum maps for ELA, Math, Science and Social Studies.
    • If not able to attend live instruction, a student is expected to access recorded lessons and complete assigned school work in order to be prepared for the next day.
    • Core Instruction blocks will have age-appropriate breaks for students.
    • The teacher will offer daily office hours/family connections.

PK-2 Remote Schedule

9:00-11:00 am Core Instruction 120 min.
11:00 am-12:00 pm Lunch/Recess 60 min.
12:00-12:30 pm Office Hours/Family Connections 30 min.
12:30-1:40 pm Core Instruction 70 min.
1:40-2:10 pm Office Hours/Family Connections 30 min.

 

3-5 Remote Schedule

9:00-9:30 am Morning Routine 30 min.
9:30-11:30 am Core Instruction 120 min.
11:30 am-12:30 pm Lunch/Recess 60 min.
12:30-1:40 pm Core Instruction 70 min.
1:40-2:10 pm Office Hours/Family Connections 30 min.