Confusion surrounds state non-compliance list

4 area schools among districts that say reopening plans were submitted before July 31 deadline

ONEIDA COUNTY, N.Y. » Gov. Andrew Cuomo revealed in an update on Monday that 107 school districts in NYS have failed to submit their reopening plans for inperson learning by the deadline on July 31. Four of those school districts lie in Oneida County.

Waterville, Camden, Utica, and Oriskany school district reopening-plans have reportedly not been submitted to the NYS Department of Health (NYSDOH) or the NYS Education Department (NYSED).

“...how they didn’t submit a plan is beyond me. If they don’t submit a plan by this Friday, they can’t open,” Cuomo said of all 107 schools.

The reasons why the state didn’t receive a plan from each district may vary, but some officials believe that an error has occurred.

Camden Central School District shared via social media, “Camden Central School District submitted the Reopening School Plans to both the NYS Department of Health and New York State Education Department on July 31, 2020, on the date they were due. We have receipts that the plans were submitted. We have resubmitted plans to the Department of Health and are working with them to understand why they did not receive our plans the first time they were submitted.”

Fayetteville-manlius, a school district in Central NY, has reportedly experienced a similar issue, according to syracuse.com.

All four Oneida County schools have a reopening plan document posted on their district website.

Senior advisor to the governor Rich Azzopardi said that the list of schools that didn’t file a plan with the NYSDOH is “accurate.”

He added, “Despite clear guidance provided to these schools, which included a link to the DOH portal, some districts in follow-up calls said they filed with

the State Education Department - which is not an executive agency - but didn’t file with DOH. Others filled out an affirmation certifying that they would be abiding by the state’s reopening guidance, but didn’t actually submit their plan, something many of these districts are now rectifying.”

Cuomo also reminded schools that after their plans have been submitted, they need to have official, open conversation sessions with parents and teachers to ensure everyone is on board and questions are answered.

At least three dialogue

sessions need to be held with parents and teachers, he said, and at least one separately just for teachers, “because teachers do have different concerns, or additional concerns beyond just the student population,” he remarked.

School districts need to complete open dialogue

sessions with the school community by August 21 to be in compliance with standards established by the State. Districts also need to post plans for remote learning, testing, and tracing on their websites by the same deadline.

The state continues to review plans based on set

criteria. Districts that are found to be out of compliance will get a letter from the NYSDOH, and a follow-up call outlining which parts of the plan is insufficient, in which case the district will have until Friday to amend their plan, according to state officials.