Dear Newark CSD Families,

The Newark Central School District is fully committed to opening school for all UPK-12 students, in-person five days a week for the 2021-22 school year. We are very excited and eager to have everyone back! To do this safely, a plan has been created utilizing guidance from the New York State Education Department, the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Highlights of this plan include:

• Universal masking when indoors for all students and staff regardless of vaccination status
• Mask breaks will be incorporated throughout the day
• Masking will be optional when outdoors
• Physical distancing of 3 feet in classrooms during instructional time
• Students will be in small pods and seating charts will be utilized when physical distancing is not possible (ie: lunchroom)
• Handwashing reminders to students and explicit handwashing instruction for our youngest learners
• Hand sanitizing throughout the day
• Sanitizing rooms, buses and high traffic areas regularly
• Mandatory masks on buses with windows open to increase air flow when applicable
• In lieu of daily health checks, parents and staff will receive daily reminders regarding COVID-19 symptoms and when to stay home sick

You can find our full opening guidance document below. I encourage you to read through our plan and familiarize yourself with it. Please see the Q&A document for further clarification and frequently asked questions.

Thank you and I look forward to an amazing school year!

Sue

Please click on this link to see the District's Opening Plan, as well as Question and Answer document: https://www.newarkcsd.org/openingguidance

This week I will begin my twenty eighth week in the Newark Central School District. During this time, I have listened to concerns regarding the safety and security of our students. As we move into the upcoming school year, one of my main goals will be to improve our practices across the District to ensure every student, every day feels not only physically safe but emotionally safe as well. While I understand no community is immune from the threats of violence, bullying or drugs that endanger schools everywhere, I do believe we can be proactive and establish systems and structures that support students and mitigate risk.

In response to the needs of our community, I am excited to introduce to you a Safe School Helpline as a preventative measure to safeguard our students and our schools PreK -12. This helpline has been developed for you, our students, parents and staff members to help maintain safety and the most positive school environment possible. The hotline can be used to report wrongdoings or illegal activity. Any type of information involving a threatening situation to students, the school or staff should be reported. Examples include thoughts of suicide or self-harm, violence, weapons, bullying, drugs and alcohol and theft. It is confidential, anonymous and available 24/7. For students that need immediate assistance, a counselor will be on hand and responsive.

To access this line, just call from a touch-tone phone to 1-800-4-1-VOICE, ext. 359 (418-6423) to leave your information. Or TEXT: 614-426-0240 Then type: TIPS Your message will not be traced and you will not be identified. The Safe School Helpline® team will transcribe and fax your message to school officials, so appropriate action can be taken. Posters and brochures will be visible throughout the District and information will also be on our website.

Thank you again for your continued support to continually improve your child’s education and sense of belonging in our District. If you have any questions regarding the Safe School Helpline, please don’t hesitate to call. I am looking forward to an amazing school year!

Please click here to access additional information on our Safe School Helpline from our website: https://www.newarkcsd.org/safeschoolhelpline

As you may know, Board of Education meetings are now open to the public; however, we must still limit capacity due to COVID restrictions. Please contact Stacy Warren at (315) 332-3217 or stacy.warren@newarkcsd.org to sign up to attend or speak at an upcoming meeting. If you plan to speak, you will need to state the topic(s) you will be speaking about. Meetings are now held at the Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES Conference Center (131 Drumlin Court).

Upcoming Board meetings will be held on September 1st and 15th. You can find a complete list of the Board meetings happening during the 2021-22 school year on our website. Please check the website closer to each meeting date for the agenda and the starting time of each meeting.

The Newark Central School District is in immediate need of the following positions that offer full benefits:

• Clerical Position at the Middle School
• Custodians
• Maintenance Worker
• Bus Drivers
• Bus Monitors
• Teaching Assistants, Teacher Aides & School Monitors

Please complete an application that can be found under the Human Resources tab on the Newark website, www.newarkcsd.org and return to Susan Carr in Human Resources.