May 1, 2020 Update

Dear KLSD Community,

We learned from Governor Cuomo just a short while ago that school buildings across NYS, including ours, will remain closed for the rest of this school year.

While this is not surprising news, for the many of us who love being in schools, it is deeply disappointing news. I want to acknowledge the disappointment and the sense of loss that many are feeling. 

Our students are missing their friends and their teachers and were looking forward to end of year activities. Please know we’re thinking of you and will do all we can to find new ways to recreate those important end of year events. 

To my colleagues who are missing their students and their colleagues, you are in my thoughts. We will find additional ways to connect in the coming weeks and months. 

To our parents, whether you have found the distance learning experience manageable or daunting, we know you are in uncharted territory and now face the prospect of another six or seven weeks. We will continue to support you.

In the end, good will come of this experience. We will have learned new ways of working together, we will have new appreciation for the value of learning and of being together, and we will have adjusted some priorities. Try to keep the long term good in mind as we manage through these challenging days.

In the coming days and weeks, we will be checking in again on the distance learning experience. Community feedback continues to be important and we are an organization committed to continual learning and growth.

Once we have additional information from the State, I will offer another Q and A over live video for the community. If you have not checked our website since the last session (on April 16), please know that we have posted answers to some of the questions we couldn’t get to that night. I can’t tell you how much I look forward to the day when I can answer a question with something more than, “We don’t know yet.”

Most importantly, please continue taking care of yourselves. Keep finding time to read books, tell each other stories, get outside (with your masks on and at appropriate distance), and find activities that give you and your families nothing but joy.

Be safe and be well,

Andrew Selesnick, Superintendent of Schools