• Dear New Paltz Families,

    As you are likely aware, Ulster County school districts must follow the guidance and recommendations of the Ulster County Department of Health (UCDOH). This guidance informs school districts on actions we may take to continue to support a safe, in-person environment. Recently, the UCDOH announced recommendations that school districts may take to facilitate an increase in the number of students permitted in the school buildings. This guidance updates former guidance that greatly hampered our ability to host more of our students in our spaces. 

    One of the most significant new recommendations is related to reducing the social distancing guidance from six feet to three feet with barriers (such as partitions). In anticipation of adopting these new spatial parameters, we began to recalculate our classrooms and instructional spaces to determine classroom capacity and room occupancy. In all instructional spaces where six feet of distance cannot be maintained, clear desk partitions are being installed. We will likely be installing these partitions in the cafeterias as well. The work to implement and install this critical new safety measure will begin over Spring Break.  

    All of the other mitigation strategies recommended by the UCDOH and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have been memorialized within our daily practices since we opened our buildings in the fall; they are essential to our ability to maintain a safe environment for our students and staff. The five key mitigation strategies essential to safe delivery of in-person instruction are:

    • Universal mask use
    • Physical distancing
    • Frequent handwashing
    • Frequent cleaning of our facilities 
    • Contact tracing along with isolation, quarantine and communication with the health department

    The following plans were developed thanks to the feedback from families and caregivers, staff, students, and experts. Prior to each building's shift to four-day in-person instruction, students will continue to follow the current hybrid schedule. Our timeline for return of our students for in-person instruction is as follows:

    Duzine Elementary • Monday, April 12: Students will transition to a four-day, in-person instructional model. Wednesdays will remain a Google Meet/asynchronous day for all students. Student cohorts A/B will be combined. Students who are continuing to be remote-only will need to be reassigned to a remote-only teacher. The change in assignment will allow remote students the best opportunity for continued, developmentally appropriate engagement. Parents will be contacted by Principal Hogan about the reassignments.

    Lenape Elementary • Thursday, April 15: Students will transition to a four-day, in-person instructional model. Wednesdays will remain a Google Meet/asynchronous day for all students. Students who are continuing to be remote-only will follow the streaming model currently in place. Parents will be contacted by Principal Inglee if any reassignments are necessary.

    New Paltz Middle School • Monday, April 26: Students will transition to a four-day, in-person instructional model. Wednesdays will remain a Google Meet/asynchronous day for all students. Students who are continuing to be remote-only will follow the streaming model currently in place.

    New Paltz High School • Monday, April 26: Students will transition to a four-day, in-person instructional model. Students continuing to be remote-only will follow the streaming model currently in place. Tuesdays will remain a Google Meet/asynchronous day for all students. A more detailed, expanded reopening guide is being completed and will be shared with you during the week of April 5. It will include important information about transportation, meal service, and building protocols. 

    Our Transportation, Food Services, and Facilities & Operations departments have all been working hard to update their operations to accommodate our ever-evolving needs, and we thank them. Our school nurses have been working diligently throughout the school year with students, staff, families, and caregivers—as well as the health department—to ensure our school buildings are a safe and healthy environment for our students and staff. Our Student Support Services and school psychologists are available for any concerns you might have regarding your child’s emotional health, and we strongly encourage you to reach out to them if needed. Our Technology department has been working to find new and more efficient ways for teachers and students to do remote learning. We are grateful to every department and every staff member for their ongoing contributions. This has been a team effort.   

    Please note that the Ulster County COVID-19 infection rate as of today is 6.6 percent, however the fluctuation is a continuing concern. We are asking you as a member of the school community to recognize your role in keeping those numbers down so that our schools may stay open and safe for all. 

    We are so thrilled about the return of our students and can't wait to see and hear them soon!


    Please refer to the COVID FAQ's here: https://www.newpaltz.k12.ny.us/Page/13242