December 21, 2021
Dear Yellowjacket Community,
I am writing to extend continued best wishes to you and our entire Yellowjacket community throughout this holiday season. Truly hoping that happiness, wonderful health, and peace surround you all now and throughout the New Year ahead.
It has been brought to my attention that rumors are circulating concerning our post-holiday return to school. Please know that these are false. The Oneonta City School District is looking forward to welcoming all of our students back to school in-person on January 3rd. We have learned much over the last 20 months, and as long as we can feed, transport, and cover faculty or staff absences, we will do so in person.
Moving forward, there may come a time, as we have already had to do so, to close a class or a grade due to a COVID “cluster” – three positives from one classroom. On the other hand, if there is a scenario where a school is considered a “hot spot,” we will explore further options. However, this school district’s goal is to keep our students in-person and in their respective classrooms because that is where students can be educated best.
I/we will continue to work with the host of organizations that we collaborate with to monitor this COVID situation. As we all recognize, this virus is ever-changing. Should a situation present itself where the health of our students, our faculty and staff, and the families that all involved return home to becomes compromised, we will then explore all options.
Until then, should that become a reality, we will continue to serve our students and this community the very best that we can during what continues to be a challenging time. Thank you for being such incredible partners throughout all of this, and PLEASE continue to keep your child(ren) home should they be COVID symptomatic – even if only one of the COVID symptoms are present.
Please remain well, enjoy the holidays, and may 2022 be wonderful for our entire Yellowjacket Family.
Sincerely…Tom Brindley